Government has described activities of the PNC/R and sections of the media as "terroristic" and is blaming this for the level of lawlessness in society.

At his weekly press conference yesterday Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr Roger Luncheon, stated that the PNC/R's anti-police stance had led to disrespect for members of the Guyana Police Force who, as a result, he said were being killed and faced with physical assaults on a daily basis.

Contacted last evening, PNC/R's General Secretary, Oscar Clarke, said he would not comment on Luncheon's statement at this stage because no specific allegation was levelled by the HPS.

Luncheon said the administration intended to address the anti-police sentiments in a number of ways. "It is felt by Cabinet, first and foremost, that political initiative has to be strengthened and heightened," he said, "bearing in mind our conviction that the reckless behaviour of the PNC/R politicians has contributed, in no small extent, to the perils faced by the police." In recent months, the PNC/R has strongly criticised the Target Special Squad of the police force over perceived extra-judicial killings. It has also called for the disbanding of the unit and led several marches against it.

Luncheon said the anti-police sentiments were rejected by the administration and the initiative would be taken to involve civil society and the international community in the rejection of the "anti-police sentiments of the PNC/R and sections of the media and call for this behaviour to be recognised as terroristic."

He continued: "The issue of the labelling of this behaviour as terroristic is one which we would address in much greater detail, pointing out the public statements [and] the resolve of sections of the media...to be promoting violence against policemen, politicians and various public personalities."

Luncheon said that it was the "rank and file" and average citizen who dug up roads and "engage in gross acts of immoral behaviour," not the leaders of the PNC/R.

"I have seen the effects of their [PNC/R politicians] words. I have seen the way they have been able to mobilise ordinary people and to create in their minds the notion that indeed this is an acceptable or appropriate response to what is happening in the communities."

He said, "you may very well find out one day that you have ignited a behavioural pattern that no longer depends on utterances.

In these enlightened days where terrorism is so aptly defined if this is not terroristic behaviour, what is? We will be moving to establish to all and sundry, domestically, regionally and internationally, that this behaviour if it is not terroristic then it is perilously close and will be treated as such."

The government is also charging that the PNC/R appears to have taken the position of being both anti-crime and anti-police, simultaneously.

Luncheon said this approach was heightened by the public antics of the aspiring leaders of the PNC/R involved in the game of political succession. It was additionally heightened by the irresponsible actions of sections of the media, he said, where these processes have reinforced the anti-police appeal.

Luncheon described the PNC/R's anti-crime message as "lame," "insignificant" and "merely words" and he added that the anti-police sentiment had gotten out of hand and the situation had created considerable insecurity.

The HPS asserted that the level of lawlessness in some sections of the media was such that station owners and subscribers, must take formal positions on the issue. He said the resolve of the administration would be measured by the responses made.

"If the appeal for respect for law and civic-mindedness falls on deaf ears then the administration would have no choice but to raise the ante and take stronger action against the individuals and sections of the media that continue to abuse the media for narrow and selfish purposes," he stated.

He stated that the endgame in the current anti-crime operation was the apprehension of the five February 23 prison escapees - whose getaway has been followed by a string of serious crimes - and the solving of recent fatal crimes.