There has been a stark increase in the number of execution-style murders so far for 2006, with just over 40 days remaining in the year, while robberies with firearms have been decreasing steadily since July.

According to the latest statistics released by Assistant Commissioner, Law Enforcement, Heeralall Makhanlall, execution style murders have accounted for 48 per cent of all murders for the period January 1 to November 6, while for the same period last year, 25 per cent of all murders were executions.

Murders of unknown origin have also increased from 13 per cent to 21 per cent.

For the year, there have been 136 murders; and for the same period last year, there were 104 murders.

Eighteen murders were committed during robberies; 21 were as a result of domestic disputes; and 43 were execution-style murders. For the same period last year, there were 26 execution-style murders.

Police “A” Division, which covers from Dora on the East Bank of Demerara to Conversation Tree on the Rupert Craig Highway, recorded the highest level of executions, 32 so far for the year, as compared to 16 for the same period last year.

According to Makhanlall, figures suggest that the most prevalent crime is armed robbery involving the use of firearms. However, other crimes, like rape and even murder, were committed during the course of these robberies.

“Potential perpetrators are attracted to those perceived to be of some good economic standing, particularly the armed robberies executed on victims at their premises and homes,” Makhanlall stated.

In terms of robberies where firearms are being used, there was an increase of 44 percent in July, 2006. However, this was reduced to 37 percent by the end of August, and to a further 18 percent by November 6.

Between January 1 and November 6, there were 990 reports of robbery under arms. In 808 occasions, firearms were used, as against 836 reports for the same period in 2005 where, in only 649 occasions, firearms were used.

Businesses seemed to be the preferred places of attack; these recorded some 249 robberies. The streets were the second most prevalent place where robberies under arms occur, with some 261 street robberies.

Some 179 persons have been attacked at their homes, while just two persons have been attacked at sea.

Other robberies under arms have occurred at schools, and in taxis, minibuses and private cars.

Businesses targeted by armed robbers include Chinese restaurants, cell phone stores, internet cafes, boutiques, money transfer agencies and gas stations.

Police successes

The Assistant Commissioner, Law Enforcement, noted that overall, police efforts have been spent on reducing the number of robberies under arms, where firearms have been used

He noted that, recently, patrols have been doubled on a daily basis, both by day and night, using vehicular patrols, foot patrols, motor cycle patrols, and plain clothes patrols.

According to Makhanlall, the numbers of road blocks, raids and cordon-and-search exercises conducted have increased, and the continued support of the army in joint exercises is another method used to deter those criminals who are bent on committing robberies.

He noted that, during this year, members of the public came out in support of the police.

“This is a positive sign that the public is regaining confidence and trust in the police force, which augers well for the future,” Makhanlall stated.

However, he noted that the identification of suspects has met with some difficulty, due to fear by witnesses of the suspects, and concerns for their own safety.

He added that, after suspects were arrested, several persons refused to attend ID parades, and some of those who attended later said that they saw the suspects but were afraid to identify them.

Makhanlall stated that the public provided information that led to the recovery of three AK-47 rifles at Plantation Washington, West Coast Berbice, two of which were stolen from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

He stated that the public has also supported the police in the tracking down of the bandits who robbed the two Banks at Berbice, and also helped in preventing bandits from discontinuing their attacks on residents at No. 2 Canal recently.

He noted that the public and police cooperation also led to the killing of wanted man Troy Dick.

According to Makhanlall, there is evidence that there is fusion of the Buxton and Agricola gangs, while those gangs that surfaced in 2005 in the Sophia and Caneville, Grove areas are dormant at the moment.

Police successes, he noted, were evident in the capture of several wanted people, including, Jermaine Charles aka ‘Skinny', Terrence John called ‘Dog', Dwight Da Silva called ‘Dwight', Delon Kenny called ‘Nasty man', Quincy Evans known as ‘Jimmy Dog', Dwayne Critchlow, Andy Williams known as ‘Bushman', Sherwin Brant and Tenesha Samuels.

“The AK-47 rifles stolen from the Guyana Defence Force have found their way into the hands of the bandits,” Makhanlall stated.

He added that, to date, 12 of the army rifles have been recovered, eight were recovered from the Berbice bank robbers, one was found abandoned at Melanie, on the East

Coast of Demerara, and two were found abandoned at Plantation Washington, West Coast Berbice.