A press release from the office of the Resident Coordinator of the UN System here extended condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Singh on their and Guyana's loss.

"She is yet another victim of an escalation of crime which concerns everyone in Guyana, irrespective of culture, ethnicity, age, economic status or political orientation," the office stated.

The release also announced that in an effort to lend its support to building internal peace and security in Guyana, it is preparing, with the help of other donor agencies, a special project to help address these issues.

"The problem urgently needs to be addressed through an increased dialogue across ethnic boundaries, measures to improve human security and a mobilisation of forces that unite rather than divide," the statement said.

According to the release, this project will include activities such as training, small grants and other support for community level initiatives as well as civil society, inter-religious and ecumenical initiatives to promote conflict resolution and confidence-building at the community level, with a particular focus on defusing the wider tensions generated by recent violence.

Sensitisation seminars will be offered to police, magistrates, judges and lawyers relating to human rights, the statement added.

The project is also expected to address conflict-sensitive reporting and human rights through the orientation of reporters, editors and owners of media houses, the statement said.

A sociologist, reacting to the statement, noted that the attempt by the UN office "to put the crime situation in an ethnic prism could find itself off target in seeking to offer some sort of support."

He referred to Jamaica, which is generally ethnically homogenous but has a more severe crime problem than Guyana.