As reported, the police patrol came under attack by armed bandits they were pursuing in Strathspey when some one dozen men from Buxton joined the fleeing criminals in firing at the cops to thwart their efforts. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured.

But the criminals, who had earlier robbed a housewife of thousands of dollars in cash and jewellery, placing a gun at the neck of a little child in the process, would have to thank the intervention of their armed collaborators in Buxton for their success in escaping into the canefields away from the chasing cops.

A number of the better known and suspected criminal elements who have been on the rampage since February this year, have been killed, some in circumstances that suggest internal conflicts among armed gangs involved in narco-trafficking and gun-running.

It is, however, quite evident that their surviving collaborators are quite active and well protected in Buxton. The law enforcing agencies must, therefore, be given every possible assistance, including the support of the law-abiding villagers of Buxton who want a deserved peace like the rest of Guyana, to flush out the criminals and bring them to justice.

Time is now
While some engage in expedient political footwork to frustrate the police, and others boldly make the lawmen themselves targets for physical attacks, the time has come for a state of emergency and imposition of a curfew in Buxton and surrounding villages. This should better enable the security forces to engage in systematic operations in hunting the criminals and to secure their weapons and ammunition of death and destruction.

Expressions of outrage, even by the Government, are not enough. Tough decisions must be made and implemented.

It is a porous explanation that was recently advanced why there should not be a limited state of emergency and curfew to empower the security forces to better engage in an anti-crime dragnet to rope in the criminals and seize the illegal weapons and ammunition.

National support for a concerted anti-crime strategy is urgently required. That's why we look forward to success at tomorrow's meeting organised by the social partners representatives to get the political parties to arrive at a consensus on the proposed joint anti-crime communique.