THE Government of Guyana said it has received credible information related to a potential domestic security threat and will be putting troops in certain targeted areas starting from today to allay the fears of citizens and to help arrest the crime situation here. The targeted operation will conclude within 48 hours, Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force and head of the joint services, Brigadier George Lewis has said. “These operations will be conducted by the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF),” the Ministry of the Presidency added in a statement. “Citizens can expect to see helicopters providing aerial coverage and an increased number of police officers, along with members of the GDF on the ground in certain areas. Citizens are asked not be alarmed, but to cooperate with security forces where necessary. The safety of all residents and visitors to Guyana remains a top priority for the administration,” the statement read.
Asked which areas will be targeted during the operation, Brigadier Lewis would only say in more than one region. Asked why the operation will last for only 48 hours, when citizens are clamouring for a much more sustained programme, Lewis said: “the specific operation is not the police Christmas operation, this is a targeted operation and it will be concluded within 48 hours…” He, like the Ministry of the Presidency, is asking the general populace not to be alarmed.
Only on Thursday, President David Granger said that a campaign is afoot to embarrass his Government and the Police Force. The President offered the comment during his weekly television programme ‘The Public Interest’ on Thursday and it came a day after People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee’s home was robbed. “I am suspicious… that there are some persons who are committing crimes to show that the Police Force and Government are weak. We don’t know for sure what is taking place, but many of these crimes have their origin in the weakening of the Police Force in the early days and so we have a very serious problem on our hands,” Mr Granger said.
He pointed out that while he is satisfied that the Force has made some headway with regard to solving many high-profile and violent crimes, it is not devoid of rogue elements. “We reckon that the decision that we took to bring the British Security Sector Reform Programme here is the right one, because we cannot proceed in this country with an unreformed Guyana Police Force and some of the actions, which are taking place, convince me that reform has to take place and we are going to do that,” he said.
The President noted that his administration remains committed to doing everything possible to ensure citizens’ safety, pointing out that reducing the high incidence of violent crime continues to be a priority. Among the changes to be instituted are the tightening of border security and control to prevent the transport of illegal guns and narcotics, more street patrols, the presence of mounted police in the hinterland and riverine areas of the country, collaboration between the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Community Policing Groups (CPGs), provision of assets such as drones for border monitoring, aerial surveillance, reduction of cash transactions and the implementation of a ‘Smart City’ programme, which will see cameras being installed along strategic points across the country, the yearly review of gun licences and security sector reform. According to the President, his focus is on comprehensive crime-fighting strategies that address the root causes of crime to ensure long-term results.