CARICOM expresses concern about crime in region, Guyana
Stabroek News
March 10, 2003
The Secretary-General and staff of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have expressed concern about rising crime in the region, particularly Guyana, and have extended their deepest sympathy to the family, friends, fellow students and employees of the University of Guyana (UG) following last Saturday's killing of UG architecture student Yohance Douglas.
In a press release on Saturday, CARICOM said: "No issue has concerned us more than the rising crime wave which threatens to envelope this Region. And in this regard, no situation has disturbed us more than that in Guyana, the headquarters of the Community and the member state wherein we and our families have made our home, however temporarily."
The statement noted that the continued violent loss of life was affecting the Guyanese community, including CARICOM staffers - some directly, in a negative way. Further, that this trend marked a "dramatic departure from the Guyana we had come to know, and now risks becoming part of the social culture..."
The release continued: "We, many of us Guyanese, share the concern of all Guyana at the continuous violent loss of life by so many Guyanese, and hope that this regrettable case... [Douglas], would further alert Guyana to the fact that this process must be arrested without delay, if Guyana is to have a tomorrow."
CARICOM was anticipating the promised (police) report on the incident, said the release, and urged all parties to do their utmost to put an end this disastrous situation, both for Guyana's sake, as well as that of the Caribbean Community.
The release concluded by adverting to CARICOM's Charter of Civil Society, which committed the community to respecting the "right to life, liberty and security of the person."
