PNCR condemns killing of traffic cop
Stabroek News
December 7, 2002
The People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) has condemned Tuesday's killing of traffic cop Quincy James, but blames the continued upsurge in crime on what it called "failed measures" implemented by the Guyana Police Force.
The party believes that a vital necessity for the success of the fight against crime is the earning of the confidence and support of all communities throughout Guyana. Reading from a prepared statement on Thursday at the party's weekly press conference, Central Executive Member, Deryck Bernard said the PNCR continues to be disturbed at the killing of members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in the line of duty and the further deterioration in the crime and security situation in the country. He offered sympathy on behalf of the party to the relatives of the young policeman who was gunned down during the robbery on Regent Street.
Bernard said recent events indicate that the anti-crime measures so far implemented have been ineffective, inappropriate or insufficient to cope with the situation. He stated that the recent upsurge of searches without warrants by police; unnecessarily destructive searches in the homes of the innocent; brutality and unprovoked violence against citizens; lack of civility and respect for the public and causing of mayhem, could not help the cause of the GPF. He said the reports of collaboration between some policemen and known criminals have also not been refuted and do damage to the force-both in terms of the effect on the professional officers willing to do the right thing-and the confidence which citizens can feel for officers.
The party also observed that the government is now of the view that the reforms proposed by the advisers from the UK Metropolitan Police Force under the assistance provided by the United Kingdom government should be immediately implemented. "We urge the government to make public the reforms proposed by the UK assistance so that all citizens can have some understanding of its intentions, priorities and likely effect."
