Go plastic
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

…Min Ramjattan urges less use of cash to stem tide of crime

MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has reiterated that citizens and businesses should limit their use of cash and make greater use of debit, credit cards and cheques for their transactions.

The minister was at the time speaking on radio programme, Jumpstart, with Gordon Moseley, on 94.1 Boom FM, when he stated that limiting cash transactions can result in a significant decrease in certain crimes.

Adding that he has pleaded with society to make commercial transactions more plastic, Ramjattan said that path is not being taken because many businessmen don’t want anyone tracing their transactions.

“Many people try to avoid plastic because of paying taxes and tracing transactions. We have that culture problem here in Guyana and so it is something we have to change, and many people have been robbed because of our cash-based society,” Ramjattan explained.
Ramjattan had called for the business community to assist government to implement plans that would see less cash-based transactions.

Meanwhile, the Public Security Minister, focusing on other aspects of crime, said that the geopolitical statistics show that the region has the highest rates of interpersonal violence, drug abuse and illegal gun ‘runnings’.

He said an IDB study revealed that the rate of violence in the hemisphere is even higher than war-torn countries. He said that Guyana’s Murder rate is 15 deaths for every 100,000 persons. Ramjattan added that it all starts from the family unit which should always be a point of focus.

“Families that are dysfunctional have a higher rate of violence in the home. Getting the youths to understand so many things like education, reading and not being idle is not necessarily a law enforcement thing. Law enforcement alone cannot stop crime, it requires leadership, it requires a cultural change and violence management,” he explained.
He said government started many educational programmes within the Community Policing Groups (CPG) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and social youth programmes that resulted in less crimes.

“People laugh and say that is statistics and it is not true and we are manufacturing it and all of that. One of the things that emboldens it, is when it appears on the front pages of newspapers…notwithstanding that, it is important to pay attention to the root causes and confront them,” he explained.

Ramjattan said that his Ministry is working on the smart city programme where CCTV cameras will be placed around Georgetown with a command center to monitor all the feeds.
“There were some problems because the firm that won the contract was Huawei and the IDB had to lend the monies and there was some difficulty,” he said.

He said government is working to enable financing to ensure that the smart city project is eventually implemented. Further, he said the video analyses of the GPF has resulted in many arrests, even if such arrests take days or weeks.

Adding that unemployment rates of youths have resulted in negative activities, he encouraged investors and entrepreneurs to invest in Guyana and contribute to the creation of jobs. Underscoring that trust-building in the Guyana Police Force starts with education and training, Ramjattan said the recruitment stage of entry into the Force is now more stringent.

“The ethical training is now a component in the six- month period; we also feel that the community generally must be transformed into an honest community,” he said. He explained that more teachings in the Force are making the law enforcement arms of the state more responsible.

“Let the police be seen not as bullies but as heroes and that is going to cultivate new respect,” he said, with reference to the leadership of the police force.

He reminded the public that, eventually, police will be wearing body cameras while executing their duties in the correct manner, in order to promote transparency with all parties involved. Acknowledging that certain conditions for officers and police ranks can be enhanced, Ramjattan said many police stations countrywide have been rehabilitated. The environment of 18 stations has been improved. He said that the Brickdam Police Station is expected to be refurbished and it calls for resources since all the buildings in the compound cannot be built simultaneously.

He explained that bad designs and ventilation of the Brickdam prison lock-ups were rectified.

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