THE Private Sector spokesman on security, Captain Gerry Gouveia, has said that members of the Guyana Defence Force should join the fight against crime.Speaking on Monday at a forum on Christmas policing, Captain Gouveia said that although he is resolutely against the army being involved in crime-fighting, in a small country like Guyana, the time is right for the Guyana Defence Force to become so involved.

“I think the army needs to join the fight under the police command, and there should be an increased presence (of army personnel) in armed patrols, especially where the crime statistics show (crime) happening,” he said.

“When people lack confidence, they start taking the law into their own hands,” he cautioned.
Government, over the weekend, deployed the military in a 48-hour operation to counter a “potential domestic security threat”. That operation saw ranks from both the GPF and the GDF conducting massive raids at the Georgetown and New Amsterdam prisons. Several contraband items were found during those raids.

Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier George Lewis, who also heads the joint services, was asked why the operation was for only 48 hours’ duration when citizens are clamouring for a much more sustained programme. Lewis responded: “The specific operation is not the police Christmas operation; this is a targeted operation, and it will be concluded within 48 hours…”

During the raid at Georgetown Prison, 21 improvised weapons and knives, 20 razor blades, 558 grams of marijuana, 22 cellular phones, five gallons of homemade wine, along with a number of other banned items were found. A lesser quantity of items was found at the New Amsterdam Prison.

“Of grave concern to the security forces is that the Georgetown Prison was last searched on September 23, 2016, which means that the contraband items’ haul had accumulated in just under two months. The Government will continue to work closely with the Guyana Prison Service and the Joint Services to address ongoing security weaknesses at the nation’s correctional facilities,” the Ministry of the Presidency has stated.

The Guyana Fire Service, Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force participated in the search operations at the two prisons, which started simultaneously after 05:00hrs.

“The Guyana Police Force, along with the Joint Services where necessary, will continue to scale up security activities in targeted areas, to ensure the security of residents and visitors across Guyana as the country enters the holiday season and in light of the uptake in criminal activity. The Government of Guyana continues to urge citizens to cooperate with the security forces,” the Ministry of the Presidency has stated.

President David Granger said last Thursday, during his weekly television programme ‘The Public Interest’, that a campaign is afoot to embarrass his Government and the Police Force. The President offered the comment a day after the home of People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee was robbed.

“I am suspicious… that there are some persons who are committing crimes to show that the Police Force and Government are weak. We don’t know for sure what is taking place, but many of these crimes have their origin in the weakening of the Police Force in the early days, and so we have a very serious problem on our hands,” President Granger said.

He pointed out that while he was satisfied that the Force has made some headway in regard to solving many high-profile and violent crimes, he is aware that the Force is not devoid of rogue elements.

“We reckon that the decision that we took to bring the British Security Sector Reform Programme here is the right one, because we cannot proceed in this country with an unreformed Guyana Police Force; and some of the actions which are taking place convince me that reform has to take place, and we are going to do that,” he said.

The President said his administration remains committed to doing everything possible to ensure citizens’ safety. He pointed out that reducing the high incidence of violent crime continues to be a priority.

Among the changes to be instituted are the tightening of border security and control — to prevent the transport of illegal guns and narcotics; implementation of more street patrols; the presence of mounted police in the hinterland and riverine areas of the country; collaboration between the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the community policing groups (CPGs); provision of assets such as drones for border monitoring and aerial surveillance; reduction of cash transactions, and the implementation of a ‘Smart City’ programme that would see cameras being installed along strategic points across the country; the yearly review of gun licences; and security sector reform.

The President has said his focus is on comprehensive crime-fighting strategies that address the root causes of crime — to ensure long-term results.