Why the country had to experience such fears in the first place could perhaps best be explained by those who started the rumours and are seemingly interested only in undermining efforts at peace and progress of this country for narrow, self-serving objectives.

President Bharrat Jagdeo, speaking in Jamaica, where he had gone in his capacity also as Chairman of CARICOM for, among other things, consultations with Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, told the media there when questioned about the coup rumours: "There is no cause for worry...Those who want to live in the past and focus on the things that divide us will soon disappear from the country".

Whoever or whatever the President may have had in mind in making that observation remains a matter of conjecture.

What would have been most encouraging for all peace-loving Guyanese, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation, is the very commendable, though by no means surprising stand adopted by the Joint Services Coordinating Committee (JSCC) in declaring "readiness" of the army and police to deal effectively with any coup attempt.

Chairman of the JSCC, Brigadier Michael Atherly, had urged the Guyanese people to be calm and to go about their normal activities since the security forces were "fully prepared" to deal with any "coup mischief".

Police Commissioner Floyd McDonald, speaking separately, fortified this position by assuring that "adequate arrangements" were in place to prevent such an eventuality.

Fortunately for the mischief-makers about a coup on Emancipation Day, all political parties demonstrated expected maturity and focused on the various activities marking this historic day in Guyana's history. Those whose political agendas conveniently blend with the armed criminals who have been on the rampage, destroying lives and property, wisely ignored or quietly distanced themselves from the rumoured coup.

The governing and main opposition parties were well represented at the Emancipation Day celebrations at Parliament Building by Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte. The Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, another regular participant, was also there.

Eternal vigilance, of course, must remain the central theme. Not only for our security forces but the governing and all political parties and civil society groups that have Guyana's national interest at heart.

After all, the criminals who have done so much harm over the past months since five of them escaped from the Georgetown Prison, are still to be captured and brought to justice along with their collaborators.

Also, there is yet to be any new gesture for dialogue instead of confrontational politics by those who are on record to make this country "ungovernable".

It is to be hoped that the folly of such an approach by extreme elements may now have been effectively exposed to the soberness and patriotism required for putting Guyana above narrow, partisan politics, and won the argument.

The security forces, often maligned, and worse, by their detractors, need all the support they can get from the Government and the society at large.

We do not know if President Jagdeo had time to benefit from Jamaica's new policies and arrangements in waging war against criminals by providing its army and police with more equipment and facilities.

Or, whether he is giving active consideration to securing technical assistance from the British and Canadian police services and the creation of a rapid response mechanism, involving both the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force, to deal with criminal violence and threats to the rule of law.