COMMANDER of ‘G’ Division (Essequibo Coast/Essequibo Islands) Khali Pareshram has said that rape and burglary are on the increase within the division and has called for a multi-pronged approach to tackle the former.

He made the disclosures last week while unveiling the division’s Christmas policing plans for the festive season. Pareshram said that rape is the most prevalent offence in the division and from statistics most of the victims are school dropouts. According to him, most of the victims are from single-parent backgrounds and are often left alone unsupervised. In view of this upsurge, he called for a multi-stakeholder approach, in the form of counselling, to reach out to the victims. He said that the division over the years has partnered with Blossom Inc. and the Schools Welfare Department in helping to socially rehabilitate the youngsters. Also, youth groups were formed in various communities to get youths actively involved.

There has also been an upsurge in break and enter and larceny. The crime is mostly committed during the day wherever the opportunity exists, especially when persons are not at home. Statistics have shown that 12 females were raped in 2017 while the number so far for this year is 31.

The division, however, saw a 28 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny for 2018. Twenty-five homes were broken into in 2017 while 18 were broken into in 2018.
In relation to murders, the commander said that there are matters still before the court. Currently, Kenrick Armogan, 57, of Bush Lot Village, is before the court for murdering his nephew Naresh Ramdass, while Radika Sukwah, the girlfriend of the deceased Deonarine aka `Russian’ is also before the court. The commander commended the Criminal Investigations Department for the investigations that were conducted in those cases. On August 22, 2018 a serial rapist, George Butters aka `Georgie’ of Lima Housing Scheme, was arrested on the basis of a general description given by a victim and was also later positively identified by two other victims. The cases are pending, whilst he is still being investigated for another.

The commander pledged his ranks’ support in providing security in the division and said that there will be an increase in intelligence-driven cordon-and-search operations targeting specific areas.