–since mobile outpost set up on Soesdyke-Linden Highway

IN an effort to better monitor traffic offences and deter criminal elements or illegal articles from entering Linden, and by extension Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Commander of ‘E’ Division, Senior Superintendent Linden Lord has established a mobile police outpost on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway in the vicinity of Bamia. Initially, the initiative was aimed at targeting criminal elements during the Linden Town Week (LTW) period, which lasted 11 days. The town’s celebrations ended last Wednesday, and was declared incident-free, and based on that success, the Commander has decided to have the outpost remain permanently on the Highway.

Since its establishment, Commander Lord has said that there has been a decrease in crime in Linden, much to the satisfaction of residents, who expressed their appreciation for such an initiative at the recently held Government Outreach in Linden at which Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and Commissioner of Police Leslie James were present.
The outpost is in operation around-the- clock, and ranks are engaged in traffic patrols throughout the day. “It sends a message to persons who might be inclined to commit crime to think again. You are hearing about it in the street; it serves a purpose, and we are seeing the impact,” Commander Lord said.

He said that before the establishment of the outpost at Bamia, there were many instances where suspects were able to escape before the police could apprehend them. The Soesdyke-Linden Highway is the primary route out of Linden, and while there is a police outpost at Amelia’s Ward, there are many alternative routes that can be used by suspects to avoid ranks there.

In addition to being a crime-fighting mechanism, the mobile outpost will also monitor speeding and reckless drivers who continue to break the speed limit while traversing the thoroughfare. An overwhelming amount of accidents continue to occur on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway as a result of speeding, many of which in recent times proved fatal. Commander Lord said all the necessary systems will be put in place to accommodate ranks at the outpost comfortably. In addition to this new mobile outpost, there are two police stations and two outposts in Linden.

At last Thursday’s Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statutory meeting, Regional Councillor Gordon Calendar said that the ranks must be commended for controlling crowds of thousands of people night after night, and ensuring there were no incidents. “I think they did a very good job, and they must be commended. And we are looking forward for continuous good works from the ranks of this Division,” he said.