THE Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) says it wants to see increased police patrols in Buxton following Monday's robbery and shooting to death of a taxi driver in the still-notorious East Coast Demerara village.
The IAC commented in a statement yesterday expressing "shock and outrage at the robbery and cold-blooded murder of 42-year-old Number 44 route mini-bus driver Sri Francis Parmanand Singh by vicious criminal elements operating in the village of Buxton."
It extended condolences to the wife, children, relatives and friends of the deceased, who was the father of six children.
The organization is calling upon the Commissioner of Police "to throw all his immense weight behind the investigations into this slaying so that the Guyana Police Force can swiftly capture and bring to justice the perpetrators of this evil deed.
"The IAC is calling upon the authorities to immediately increase the presence of the law enforcement agencies in Buxton to prevent any resurgence of the crime wave that plagued the East Coast of Demerara following the 2002 Mash Day jail break."
In a related development, the IAC said it understands that many passengers of Indo-Guyanese origin concerned for their own safety have repeatedly objected to being driven through the various crossroads of Buxton and having the mini-buses transporting them stopping anywhere in Buxton.
It said it also understands that many mini-bus drivers have deliberately ignored the wishes of these passengers and therefore have put their lives at risk.
"The IAC wishes to warn all mini-bus drives, especially those of Indo-Guyanese origin, to exert extra care when traversing Buxton and not take unnecessary risks either to themselves or their passengers by stopping in or driving through potentially hostile territory, especially now during the holiday season," the statement added.
IAC executive member Sri Evan Radhay Persaud Misra visited the bereaved family at their home at Foulis, East Coast Demerara, yesterday.