The party, at a news conference at its Freedom House headquarters in Georgetown, expressed confidence that it was only a question of time before the remaining two February 23 notorious prison escapees were captured and the remaining sections of the highly-organised criminal network broken by the Police and law and order strengthened in the country.

Two of the escapees - Dale Moore and Mark Fraser - were among seven persons killed in separate shooting incidents in the city and on the East Coast Demerara on Monday.

The Police in an operation also uncovered an arsenal of heavy weapons, 'channa bombs', grenades, 'walkie talkies' and cell phones at `safe houses' in the city, which were used by the bandits, officials said.

PPP General Secretary, Mr. Donald Ramotar noted that both Moore and Fraser had managed to evade the security forces for months, posing serious threats to the safety of citizens.

Troy Dick and Shawn Brown are the two from the gang of five prison escapees still on the run. Andrew Douglas was the first member of the gang who was shot dead in August.

The five broke out of the Georgetown Prison on February 23 last, killing a Prison Officer and seriously wounding another.

"The capture of these notorious bandits represents a major breakthrough by the Police in the fight against crime in the country and comes as a sigh of relief to the Guyanese people," Ramotar said.

According to him, it is widely believed that a significant number of criminal activities, including the recent spate of murders and kidnappings, resulted from criminal activities involving the escapees and their organised network.

Of great concern to the party are the range, character and quantity of arms and ammunition found in the possession of the captured bandits, Ramotar said.

He said it was evident from the stock of equipment seized that the motives of the bandits were at best sinister with a view of committing further acts of death and destruction.

The intention was to intimidate and drive terror in the minds of the Guyanese people, the PPP General Secretary asserted.

In this regard, Ramotar said the major partner in the governing PPP/Civic alliance notes with interest the "seizure of a large quantity of 'channa bombs', which speaks to a motive beyond the realms of ordinary criminality".

"The potential use of such channa bombs - which is not a regular weapon of criminals - and its potential for damage to lives and property must be a matter of concern to all peace-loving Guyanese," he said.

"The findings of the Police are a vindication of the position taken by the PPP that there existed an organised network of criminal gangs with apparent political connections aimed at instituting a reign of terror as part of a destabilisation campaign to make the country ungovernable," he said.

Ramotar said, too, that the party commends all those civic-minded citizens who had distanced themselves from acts of lawlessness committed by a misguided few in the Buxton, East Coast Demerara community with obvious political connections.

He said the PPP urges those involved in criminal actions "to desist forthwith from such activities, which can only lead to further tensions with predictable consequences".

"We've always expressed confidence that sooner or later, the Police Force would have brought this matter to a conclusion but while we don't want to go out on a limb to say that they will do it soon, or that crimes would stop tomorrow, I am optimistic that they will have this spate of criminality under control in the shortest possible time," Ramotar told reporters.

"I wish to call on those who are pursuing the agendas of those who want to perpetuate terror and make Guyana 'ungovernable' that they are doing a disservice to their noble profession and the country," he said.

"Once again, the PPP remains committed to supporting the law enforcement agencies and calls on all sections of our society and political groups to offer full support in the fight against crime," he added.

According to him, there must not be any equivocation or apportioning of blame.

"The security forces must use the current breakthroughs with the support of all law abiding Guyanese to restore an acceptable level of security and safety in our country," he urged.

Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Ronald Gajraj, at a news conference last Friday, said there had been successes in the fight against the current crime wave but noted that the need for a quick and resounding breakthrough was legitimate.

He had said that his ministry was confident that the nation's "hardworking and dedicated" law enforcement ranks and Officers will soon restore a sense of safety and security for the citizens of Guyana.

Ramotar yesterday also said the PPP wishes to publicly commiserate with the families of Kamaldeo Ganesh, the McAdams, and `Jinga' Motilall and several others who have been the recent victims of criminal attacks and kidnapping.

"The party calls on the Guyanese people to support the security forces in their quest to eradicate crime in the country and to bring to justice the perpetrators of such murderous acts committed on the Guyanese people," Ramotar urged.

Another worrying point, he said, has been the conduct of sections of the media regarding the recent anti-crime operation by the Police.

"While fully respecting media freedom which the PPP/Civic restored, the party is appalled at the latest episodes of irresponsibility in the coverage of the crime incidents," he said.

He pointed out that for some sections of the media aligned to the opposition, the Police are made out to be villains, the Minister of Home Affairs and his family are targets of vicious rumours and some reports are slanted to show more sympathy for the murderous criminals and suspects.

In this regard, he reminded reporters that the media have an obligation to be factual, truthful and objective as possible.

Meanwhile, Ramotar also announced that the Central and Executive Committees of the party had several weeks ago elected the following persons to sit on the Secretariat:

** Clement Rohee - Secretary for International Affairs

** Satyadeow Sawh - Secretary for NGOs and Civil Society

** Robert Persaud - Secretary for Public Relations and Youth Affairs

** Ali Baksh - Secretary for Mass Organisation

** Komal Chand - Secretary for Trade Unions

** Hydar Ally - Secretary for Education

** Indra Chandarpal - Secretary for Women's Affairs