AN article appearing in the ‘Stabroek News’ headlined “Cop arrested over bribe after sting operation” was published on October 31, 2020
The article stated in part, “A policeman was yesterday arrested during a sting operation after he was allegedly caught soliciting money from a member of the public who wished to avoid prosecution.”
This aberration is seemingly very prevalent in society, especially in hinterland regions and rural areas.
The security services in Guyana were deliberately de-professionalised to aid the oppressive regime of a former dictatorial administration in subjugating the citizens of the land, especially those perceived as ‘dissidents.’
During that period members of the security sector were used to drive fear and discourage citizens from seeking their constitutional rights to freedom of choice – of any kind and in any dimension, even to eat the foods of their choice.

Subsequent to the PPP/C’s victory at the polls in October of 1992, newly elected Executive President Dr. Cheddi Jagan attempted to once more professionalise the service sectors – security, public sector, et al. However, by then corruption had become endemic to the national psyche and had infused every aspect of national life, to the extent that every transaction, no matter how small, was an exercise in futility unless a bribe was paid.
But with fortitude and determination the new government made inroads, mainly through forging partnerships with main players and key stakeholders, such as the private sector and impartial NGOs; and also by re-construction of the constitution and establishing relevant commissions to eradicate destructive, dishonest and unpatriotic actions, albeit with minimal success, although government has initiated many educational, wealth-creational and empowerment programmes to enable enhanced lifestyles of employees within the various sectors.
A letter-writer, Ted King, posited: “Police living above their means is cause for dishonest practices,” and he goes on to state, among other remarks: “They have been getting constant increases in wages and benefits, including tax-free pay for lower ranks and annual bonuses, among others.”
When police ranks are caught red-handed committing crimes, in many instances the punishment meted out to them almost never fits the crime and proves no deterrent to the continuation of aberrant behaviour. Most often they are merely transferred elsewhere, where they continue to commit their criminal acts.
Law-abiding and hard-working citizens feel great anger at being targeted by criminals and many times receiving no protection from the police force, many members of which they justifiably contend are in collusion with criminals, and even perpetrate criminal activities, based on expose’s such as in the preceding instance.
The police force has issued notice of a reward for information leading to arrest and prosecution of the murderers of the Henry boys, but the general problem is trust issues the public at large has with the police force.

Citizens are convinced that security ranks are colluding with criminal elements, even themselves committing criminal acts, including armed robberies.
A while ago, a police commissioner was taped allegedly having a conversation with a senior member of a political party in which the commissioner implicated himself in serious criminal activities, including planting drugs on an innocent person.
The police will have to weed out the rogues within their ranks themselves so as to re-generate trust in the public once more. The truth is that most police ranks are honourable and patriotic, serving with diligence and commitment to “serve and protect,” and it is up to them to weed out the rotten apples because the taint and mistrust is spreading to encapsulate the entire force.
Many policemen have laid their lives on the line and have worked beyond the call of duty to “protect and serve” and it is unjust and de-motivating to label them with the actions of the corrupt ranks; so it is incumbent upon them to eliminate this scourge from their august sector.