Editorial
The Guyana Police Force faces two distinct quandaries at the present time. These are the escalation in serious crimes and killings by the police that bear all of the hallmarks of extra-judicial killings. Both of these problems are clear and present dangers to an orderly society operating on the basis of the rule of the law. And clearly, extra-judicial killings by the police can in no way be mitigated by the spiralling level of crime.
Stabroek News
June 25, 2001
As a society - as deeply divided as it might be - we all have to begin clamouring for solutions to both of these problems, not one. Therefore, when the PPP/C or ROAR or any other group rages against crime they must also in the same breath and just as vehemently condemn extra-judicial killings and other law enforcement maladies. Similarly, when the PNC/R inveighs against the extra-judicial killings by the police and marches against this scourge, it must similarly array its forces against pernicious and deep-seated crime. No group or party can become a special interest representative on what are clearly national issues.
In relation to extra-judicial killings, the government patently needs to address this albatross that has hung around the neck of the police force for many years. An enquiry at the level of the defence forces commission which is catered for in the recent constitutional amendment could be an option as pointed out by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon in yesterday's Sunday Stabroek. The government should be more purposeful on this matter and should immediately set the enquiry in motion. Right away, all of the recent killings by the police should be subject to speedy inquests.
And what is the government and the police force going to do about the wave of crime that has engulfed the country with deadly consequences? The tide of crime has been best epitomised by the murder of Brickery businessman, Rahamat Alli. His executioners shot him once then twice more as he lay helpless on the ground. Alli was the second in his family to be mowed down by the bullets of bandits. Several years ago, his brother Bhagwandin Sagar, a Supply gas station owner was also mercilessly gunned down. Another brother Sagar II also had a narrow escape at the hands of bandits.
Underworld elements have taken advantage of the political unrest to plunder and create havoc. Besides Alli's murder there have been at least three others in Georgetown. The killings were the result of gratuitous, senseless violence where the victims posed no danger at all to their attackers.
Other worrying characteristics of these crimes were how well-planned and timed they were, the firepower available to the criminals and the resources brought to bear. In one robbery on the East Bank, two cars were utilised. A well-armed and equipped network of criminals clearly exists from which gangs are spawned to commit crimes. While there have been several cases where the police have apprehended would-be robbers prior to the commission of crimes, for the most part the police have been clueless and are unable to respond in time to these attacks. The Corentyne was a perfect example of how mercilessly bandits preyed upon villagers.
What will the government and the police force do to rein in this crime wave? This question has been asked during previous periods of rampant criminality without a forthright plan or answer coming from the government.
The government is now acknowledging that the Guyana Fire Service is short of the capacity it needs to get to the bottom of fires. Perhaps, it is also time for it to honestly evaluate the shortcomings of the police force in terms of crime prevention and investigation and which shortcomings may be a significant factor in extra-judicial killings. We have seen little evidence of the intelligence-led battle against crime as had been advocated by UK police adviser Paul Matthias.
The government and the police force have their work cut out in relation to these twin challenges.