Saturday's rescue by the security forces of kidnapped businessman Viticharan Singh is an important victory in the fight against the criminal enterprise that has taken root in Buxton and other places. The police and the army must be congratulated on the success of this joint operation. This rescue, the first of its kind since the kidnappings began last year should be used as a launching pad for breaking up the cabal that has masterminded the kidnappings and other heinous crimes from within Buxton. Those currently in custody should be closely questioned and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It is a pity that the ever-tardy legislators of the country are yet to approve the sweeping anti-kidnapping legislation that has been before it for many months. Those now in the hands of the police will likely escape charges under this new legislation.
Since Mr Singh's kidnapping last week, there has been a discernible determinedness in the security forces to find him and mount a credible response to his abduction and this is most welcome. One raid last week on a house in Buxton failed to find Mr Singh and taught two costly lessons. The death of Lance Corporal Shemton Dodson while trying to protect himself and colleagues demonstrated the deadly quality of this fight that the security forces have had to wage against brutal criminals. Over 20 policemen have been killed since last year and now a soldier has also lost his life. There can be no equivocation over the need for all law-abiding citizens to throw their support behind the security forces in this fight.
The second lesson was that Buxton remains a viable hideout for outlaws. Mark Anthony Phillips - wanted for a series of bloody crimes - was one of the men killed in the gunfight with Lance Corporal Dodson. Clear evidence that despite protestations to the contrary and the blind-eye approach by some leaders in the community of Buxton, criminals - the most brutal of them all - continue to be harboured there. Mr Singh's discovery in Buxton is also further evidence of the tentacle-like criminality which has entangled Buxton and its citizens. Until Buxton ceases to export criminals to other communities and stops being a magnet for them no part of the village will be above suspicion and the security forces must be allowed to conduct search and intercept operations there without hindrance. The criminals will no doubt seek to camouflage their activities by embedding them in the most innocuous areas of Buxton life.
There can be no letting up of the guard. The spate of kidnappings has been an eye-opening experience for Guyana and is more than likely not at an end. One hopes that the government will show greater agility in creating an anti-kidnapping squad and drawing on the experience of other countries. Trinidad and Tobago continues to be wracked by abductions and while there have been some successes through rescues of victims it has not been able to put an end to the spate of kidnappings. Hopefully there will be some detailed exchanges between the police forces of Guyana and Trinidad on how to combat this crime and dissuade those inclined towards it. In this respect it is heartening to note that police officers will soon be proceeding to Trinidad for training on how to handle hostage-taking.
Real damage has already been caused here by kidnappings. Infrastructural work on the East Coast ground to a halt recently after two Trinidadians were kidnapped and freed following the payment of ransom. The stunning abduction of US diplomat Stephen Lesniak, his brazen parading in Buxton and the effortless collection of ransom before he was released worsened the situation. After a long silence, the US government has spoken on the matter here and the news is not good. A review, according to US Ambassador Ron Godard, is to be done of current staff levels and a decision could be taken to reduce numbers in the wake of what was deemed by a US government advisory as "ineffectual" policing amid rising crime. If Washington were to take a decision to reduce staff levels because of the security situation many others would undoubtedly take their cue from this. The numerous projects - government and non-government - that rely on international consultants and contractors could be even more seriously affected. Tourism would be further jeopardised and the same would be true for new investments.
It is therefore imperative that the government builds on the nurturing environment created by the joint communiqué between President Jagdeo and Mr Corbin to beef up professional and intelligence-led security operations to keep the criminals at bay. Preparations for the SWAT team and other measures such as the procurement of needed equipment should also be expedited. It is hoped that the public clamour for the police to reform their heavy-handed methods and the imminent Parliamentary inquiry into the operations of the force will lead to an improved relationship between the force and the public which is pivotal to turning the tide and reducing the scope for creating safe havens like the one at Buxton.
In the continuing talks between President Jagdeo and Mr Corbin the issue of crime must remain one of the top issues and command the attention of both leaders.