IT’S barely three months into the year, but already the hinterland or ‘F’ Division as it is known in Law Enforcement circles, has had five “disorderly murders”.

But that’s not all. According to the jurisdiction’s divisional commander, Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram, the police have also seized 14 illegal firearms so far for the year.

“Disorderly murders”, Budhram says, have always been a challenge for the police in the hinterland, as miners are in the habit of imbibing heavily and getting into drunken brawls, particularly over women.

Besides alcohol abuse, the jurisdiction, which is heavily into mining, is also beset by such other challenges as domestic violence and worksite disputes involving workers and bosses.

The latest “disorderly murder” to have rocked the area occurred last Thursday, claiming the life of 24-year-old Arnold Gordon of Kumu Village, in the Central Rupununi.

In order to address the issues and perhaps keep the murder rate down, Budhram said the government has implemented what is called a Social Crime Prevention Programme in several areas, which primarily targets early school leavers and unemployed youths.

That programme, he explained, focuses mainly on the empowerment of youths by helping them develop skills and moral values in order that they may become productive and contribute meaningfully to the society and at the same time enhance police / community relations.

Meanwhile, the latest gun-bust occurred on Sunday morning at Tabatinga, in Lethem, and involved the arrest of a 34-year-old resident at his home with an unlicensed shotgun and three live cartridges.

He is currently being processed for court.