October 18, 2016

Archives for May 4, 2016

Angry vendors protest outside President’s office

… businessman objects to vendors using land, locks gate
… say Royston King lied to them

Almost a dozen Police Officers took up combat positions at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Shiv Chanderpaul drive office on Tuesday, as they sought to ward off a group of angry vendors, who were relentless in their efforts to speak with President David Granger or someone close to him who could relay their plight.

Angry vendors expressing their frustration to Guyana Times

Angry vendors expressing their frustration to Guyana Times

A vendor speaking with the media

A vendor speaking with the media

The group of mostly women marched along Regent Street, after making several unsuccessful stops to get an idea of what really needed to be done to get their businesses back up and running. Their first stop at the office of Town Clerk Royston King yielded little or no result, since, up until the time of the protest, no positive word was forthcoming.
The vendors, some of whom have been in the business for decades, were removed from the outskirts of the Stabroek Market area, to facilitate a massive clean-up campaign. But the vendors, who were quite raucous, said they have been deceived by a system they trust. They casted blame on the Town Clerk, who they said, has no plans for them.
“They invited us to a meeting, but when the people come out of the meeting, they could not tell us anything. They said to give them three days to sort this out. But I just want to know, three days? How can they take three days. What will happen to us, we will have no job”, one vendor named Odessa told Guyana Times on Tuesday.
“How can they do this to us? Royston King deceived us. I am a cosmetologist and I have a three-year-old daughter. Most of the people out here have children to take care of. We don’t have anybody to brace us. We want to see the President… Those big ones have their lives already set out for them. It is us the small man, that have to try to make a life for ourselves… Mr Granger got four more years, four more years in there to do nonsense. If he wants to go back in there, he got to help us,” another young mother told this publication.
“Last year, time like this, we were protesting to get Carol Sooba out, for him to get in. But look is same thing, same thing. No difference. He tell us he got a place for us to sell, but I want to know where this place is. Up to now I aint see no place for us to sell,” another man said.
The vendors were reportedly told that they would be moved to an area South of Parliament Buildings. However, when Guyana Times showed up there on Tuesday, the gate was heavily padlocked. At the time the Town Clerk, accompanied by seniorPpolice ranks had come and peruse the area. He told this newspaper that the gates of the premises were always secured with padlocks. He said too that the Council was at the time preparing to clear up the area so that vendors could be able to access it.
In a release from the Town Council sometime later, it was noted that the area identified as the relocation for the vendors could be ready in a matter of days.
According to the release, the Town Clerk said the city has already spoken to the owner of the private land and everything stands “as per agreement.”
“We have secured permission from a private business owner to use the land for a specified period to relocate vendors who ply their trade,” King said. He noted that preparatory work is ongoing at the location, “and it is expected that in another few days, this location will be ready for the vendors to ply their trade.”
Around 10:00h on Tuesday morning, members of the Municipality’s City Constabulary also carried out a special exercise within the market area. The Town Clerk said this was “aimed at ridding the location of loiters and other individuals who have no business at the facility since they are often times impeding the way of citizens who come to do business.”
At least five trucks were filled with rubbish when the Engineer’s Department and Constabulary ranks oversaw the removal of waste in, between and around stalls located under the canopy, East of the market. The Town Clerk is adamant that the “Council’s administration is intensely focused on restoring the health and integrity of this historic structure and its immediate periphery; including the Stabroek Market Square.”
Outside of this, vendors are also asked to pick up their goods currently being held within the Council’s compound. The various bundles of commercial items that were stored along the roadway were picked up during the recent cleanup activities as these persons refused to pay a $200 fee for storage services being offered by a private citizen. The Council is returning the items which were safely placed in its compound, but reminds vendors that they are not allowed back on the streets. While the goods are being returned free of cost, the Council encourages the earliest removal of the items.
Meanwhile, Guyana Times understands that the owner of the land has not yet agreed to have vendors occupy the space until legal documentation is drawn up. According to reports, Hareshnarine Sugrim said the Town Clerk had asked him to “borrow” the land documentation from the Attorneys and the courts since according to him, “we don’t want when time meet and the three months up, they own the place… I gave him a verbal talking but I told him I need legal documents before anybody occupies the place,” Sugrim told an online news outfit. Late Tuesday evening when this newspaper visited the area city council workers were seen spreading sand at the location in the presence of King and City Constabulary officers.

Police deny upsurge in crime

… say Force recorded 19% decrease, raids intensify in Berbice

 

 

By Devina Samaroo

Criminal raids three times a week, heightened Police patrols and greater presence in neighbourhoods, intensified training among Police ranks, and the resuscitation of social programmes, are all components of a crime prevention strategy that contributed to the overall 19 per cent reduction in serious crimes at the end of April, relative to the same period last year.
Senior Police officials are staunchly dismissing the widespread perception that criminal elements are becoming emboldened and that crime is spiralling out of control.GPF (clean)
They are contending that the public perception on the crime situation is a sheer misrepresentation and that a simple glance at the statistics will prove this.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) reported that there was a nine per cent reduction in murder; a nine per cent decrease in gun related robberies; eight per cent decrease in armed robberies where other instruments other than a gun were used by perpetrators; 38 per cent decrease in robberies with violence; 38 per cent decrease in robberies with aggravation; 18 per cent decrease in rape and 22 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny.
According to the Police, this represents a 32 per cent decrease against those reported in March this year.

Crime in Berbice
Assistant Commander of B Division (Berbice) Ian Amsterdam, during an interview with Guyana Times also dismissed concerns raised by the local business community about the increasing crime wave in the Ancient County.
He reported that Berbice recorded 21 serious crimes, down from 34 in March, 33 in February and 41 in January.
Amsterdam maintained the regional crime plan is “definitely working”, adding that the local Police will be doubling their efforts to continue to arrest the situation.
These efforts, he said, includes working on more intelligence gathering, conducting raids in areas where criminal elements are suspected to be harbouring, and increasing patrols.
Particularly, he said much focus is being placed on clamping down on the criminal safe havens located in Rose Hall, Rosignol, Corriverton and New Amsterdam.
The Assistant Commander noted too that while the ranks are working with limited resources, they are doing the best they can to keep the crime situation under control.

Wrong perception
Overlooking the fact that over six families were terrorised, robbed and in some instances killed within a space of one week in Berbice, Amsterdam said persons are peddling the wrong perception about the crime rate in the country.
Referring to the contentions made by the two leading Chambers of Commerce in Berbice, the Assistant Commander posited the bodies are spreading the wrong perception about crime.
“The Chambers didn’t speak to me. If they had spoken to me, I would have said that this is the wrong time to say that crime is on the increase. Maybe a month or two ago, they could have said that, but the very month that they speak is the very month that crime went down,” he stated, noting that people will believe the misinformation and disregard the statistics.
Social media users, commuters, vendors, and students alike have all raised their concerns about the noticeable upsurge in the crime situation in the country.
From the daring casino robbery to the horrific death of the two rice stalwarts in Essequibo, persons are growing more and more fearful of the roaming criminal elements.
The Berbice Chambers have criticised the Government, and in so doing received criticisms from the Government on the issue of crime in the nation.
The Chambers lambasted Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan for not getting a handle on the crime situation and more particularly, for putting the golden jubilee celebrations as top priority on his agenda.
“Government seems powerless, ineffectual, and out of their league in fighting crime. It is extremely disappointing as the coalition campaigned very strongly on this issue and we were all optimistic with all the military, ex-commissioners and other `experts’ at their disposal and now we have a situation in Berbice that is far worse than we have ever experienced. Everyone seems to be a sitting duck, as it seems every day a business is held up and residents beaten and robbed in their homes, this coupled with the depressed business environment, makes it exceedingly burdensome for businesses and ordinary citizens to cope. President Granger and the government has miserably failed the people of this country to provide protection and security”, the Chambers said in a joint statement.
They noted, however, that the only exception is the Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who has to be commended for his efforts in tackling crime.
Lashing back at the Chambers, the Police Association of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) declared that the organisations are ungrateful and irresponsible.

Training
Meanwhile, the GPF boasted of the continuous exposure of its ranks to training; both locally and internationally.
There are currently 12 Assistant Superintendents of Police attached to the Dade County Police in Miami for a period of three weeks on training. This initiative will expose them to a First World approach on designing tactics and delivering on frontline functions.
For the year alone, 33 members of the Force received training overseas in various aspects of law enforcement, inclusive of a three-month course in cybercrime in India, a three-month course in Advanced Fingerprint Technology in India, and an Advanced Crime Scene Investigation Course in Russia.
Locally, 34 new entrants to the Crime Investigation Department completed a six-week training programme. This adds to 24 ranks who completed an Intelligence Gathering and Analysis Course, and 35 who attended a programme on National Protocols for Child Advocacy Centres.
Additionally, the Police Divisional Detective Officers and their second in command as well as the Officers at the CID Headquarters were trained by trainers developed by the Justice Education Society of Canada in Major Crimes Case Management and Investigation.
Furthermore, it noted that 60 new recruits have graduated from the Felix Austin Police College, adding to the 287 who graduated in February.

Port Mourant businessman chopped, robbed

Another Berbice businessperson has been robbed. This time, the owner of Limacine Service Provider Rawle De Matos was pounced upon while entering his yard at Port Mourant on Monday evening.

Rawle De Matos

Rawle De Matos

Reports are that the businessman was attacked by two men, one of whom was armed with a gun and the other with a cutlass at about 21:00h.
Speaking with Guyana Times, De Matos said that the men were in his yard waiting for him as he entered. He related that the men demanded cash and jewellery and ordered that he take them into the house.
De Matos recalled that the men attempted to duct tape him and he resisted, during which a scuffle ensued. He was hit in the head with a gun and also chopped in the head.
The man however managed to free himself from his attackers and ran out of the yard, calling for help. During the attack, De Matos was relieved of $6000, and a cellular phone.
He was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital and then transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he remains a patient. No one has been arrested. Police are investigating.

Private Sector shoots down renaming of Ogle Int’l Airport

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has added its voice to the growing condemnation against President David Granger over his recommendation that the Ogle International Airport be renamed and hopes that it reconsiders the proposal in face of competition concerns raised by most operators.

Ogle International Airport

Ogle International Airport

A proposal by the Head of State to rename the airport after Guyana’s first Public Transport Minister, Eugene Correia, continues to face resistance, with the PSC being the latest to speak on the issue.
In a statement on Tuesday, the PSC said the renaming of the airport in favour of a former public official of the same name as that of the Chairman of the Ogle Airport Inc will add to the already filled vessel of complaints regarding anti-competitive behaviour of the Board of Ogle Airport Inc.
The PSC said the operators publicly and privately have expressed opposition and dissatisfaction with the renaming of the airport and the PSC now urges the Government to consider carefully the views of the majority of operators at Ogle Airport in the interest of all concerned and to complete the promised audit and review.
Last year when the issue first surfaced, President Granger met with a group representing the private operators who have expressed worry over the name change. It was the President who had suggested the name change just after taking office.
That proposal met strong objections from most of the airline operators who work out of the Ogle Airport.
They have pointed to the fact that one of the airlines at Ogle, Trans Guyana, is owned by the Correia Group and that group’s owner is already the Chairman of the Airport.
The operators believe that adding the Correia name to the airport could give the company a bigger advantage in the busy local aviation sector.
Just recently, the President raised the issue again during his Public Interest television programme and referred to operators who opposed the name change as “petty minded people.”
These operators, the PSC said, have publicly and privately expressed their opposition and dissatisfaction with the re-naming of the airport.
“We urge the Government to consider carefully the views of the majority of operators at Ogle Airport in the interest of all concerned and to complete the promised audit and review,” the Commission said in a statement.
On his weekly television programme “The Public Interest”, last week, President Granger slammed aircraft operators for their delay in renaming the Airport. He said their behaviour of those operators is small minded.
Executive Director of Roraima Airways (RA) Gerry Gouveia however lashed back at the Head of State, saying that he was baffled by his insistence and determination to rename the entity against the wishes of the majority.
A few months ago, the President suggested the idea of renaming the airport as Eugene Correia International Airport but this did not sit well with some of the private aircraft owners who objected to the proposal.
These include Air Services Limited, and Roraima Airways, who were more concerned with mending some of the issues plaguing the airport and to holistically develop Guyana’s aviation sector.
At that time, President of the National Air Transport Association (NATA) Annette Arjoon-Martins had stated that despite tremendous contributions to Guyana’s growth over the years, the aviation sector has not seen the development and representation that it needs to propel it forward.
Correia Group of Companies is not a member NATA but according to Vice President Gerry Gouveia, this was due to the fact that the group was “refused” a meeting with Michael Correria regarding the issues affecting operators at the Airport.
However, the Head of State maintained that Eugene Correia would have made significant contributions to Guyana. Although dead for more than 50 years, his career has been described as stellar as he was Communications Minister, with the responsibility for aviation; a pilot; and also the recipient of a national award.

Alleged “hitman” identified during ID parade

– gunpowder residue found on clothing

The man who was detained by Police in connection with the murder of Parika fuel dealer Seeram Singh’s murder was positively identified by an eyewitness, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed.

Deceased: Seeram Singh

Deceased: Seeram Singh

Blanhum told Guyana Times that during an identification parade (ID) on Tuesday, the man was positively identified.
The Crime Chief said a test was conducted on the suspect’s clothing and gunpowder residue was found.
The suspect, who was arrested on Sunday evening in Parika, will be charged with the capital offence by the end of the week.
A woman, said to be an ex-lover of the now dead businessman, was arrested earlier, but it was unclear if she was released.
Guyana Times understands that the woman contracted the gunman to execute the businessman and to make it look like a robbery after he (Singh) broke off the relationship and began dating someone else.
Singh, 52, of Lot 40 Parika Outfall, East Bank Essequibo, was stabbed to his abdomen and shot twice – to his head and his hip.
The bullet to his head was at close range and may have been the fatal shot. According to information, the man was talking to someone on his mobile phone when he was attacked and stabbed.
In an attempt to raise an alarm, the injured man ran towards a shop, but the gunman gave chase and caught up with him. A scuffle ensued and it was then the suspect discharged two rounds at Singh. As the businessman fell, the gunman relieved him of two gold chains and escaped.
Singh was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Hours after the shooting the supposedly spurned woman was taken into custody.
Alesia Singh, the man’s daughter, told Guyana Times her father did not have any enemies. She described him as religious and helpful. The businessman operated several vessels that would supply fuel to miners in the Cuyuni/Mazaruini area.
The man leaves to mourn five children.

Access to public information

World Press Freedom Day was celebrated yesterday, Tuesday under the 2016 theme “Access to Public Information”. I have found this year’s theme quite fitting in Guyana’s context, in addition to other countries.
Speak with any reporter locally and they would tell you that one of the hardest things to do is to get access to public information; even harder is trying to get that information from the persons or Ministers responsible for the public institutions. Further exacerbating that is the conduct of Government personalities and the contempt shown towards the populace and Journalists when their public portfolio comes under scrutiny by the press.
While it is understandable that Government figures in the remit of their work would have to keep certain amounts of information confidential, Ministers should also be more open and responsive to the media, especially where it concerns matters that are of interest to the public and those that directly affect the socioeconomic and political fabric of their lives.
It is hard to decipher if it is because of our cultural disposition or our socialisation, but, as a people, we are offended when public servants and Ministers withhold information or act clandestinely. However, after the revelations come out and die down, we forget all about them and move on, as if to say that we are accepting of them when, in reality, we should be pressing harder for the truth to come out.
For example, we are yet to hear a word from the Government on the actions of the Social Protection Minister who openly defended a party loyalist who on more than one occasion was allegedly involved in the sexual assault of minors. We kicked up a big ruckus about the entire incident and now it appears that nothing ever happened, even though the Government is yet to pronounce on the comments made by its subject Minister.
Under the previous Administration, another Minister in a drunken tirade called a reporter and allegedly made threats against that person. A media frenzy surrounded the incident, but that, too, after a while died down.
In contrast, a conglomerate of Journalists dissected a massive leak of more than 11.5 million documents, exposing the hidden wealth of the world’s elites. The stories carried under the “Panama Papers” tag have led to the resignations of, and legislative action being taken against, implicated Government officials in light of such revelations.
Without coming across as cynical, it is believed that if any of the information still emanating from the Panama papers implicates Guyanese, nothing would be done in the final analysis.
There was also the recent issue of press censorship on the part of the Prime Minister who was accused of interfering with the State media. The US State Department Human Rights report had stated, “The law provides for freedom of speech and press, and the Government generally respected these rights. (However, in regards to censorship and restrictions), in August, the Prime Minister issued a directive that all headlines in the State-owned print media be first scrutinised and approved by his office before they are published. The directive was a response to a headline criticising the Government. The Prime Minister also serves as Minister of Information.”
The Prime Minister has since refuted the accusations levied against him and his office, citing that “allegations of censorship in State media have no basis in reality or fact.”
It was only after receiving criticisms from NGOs and the Press Association of Guyana did the President respond – not to the issue, but in general, saying that his Administration was committed to “non-interference in the independent media” and his “Administration will not undermine the professionalism of State media workers by subjecting them to political direction or interference in their work”.
We, as a people, have to start casting aside our parochial approach in the body politics of governance and become more participatory, demanding that our elected office bearers uphold their constitutional mandate of accountability and transparency towards us. If not, then “Access to Public Information” will become a closely guarded secret and the least of our worries.

Church meets the Street set for Arrival Day

Jubilee Futsal…

Futsal action will return to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Thursday, May 5 (Arrival day) when C&A Unique in collaboration with South Quake Youth Ministry kicks off their Jubilee Futsal Competition. The event, titled “The Church meets The Street” and is expected to see 50 of the best churches and street futsal teams compete in the one day knockout tournament.

At the launch ceremony (L-R) Carlos Griffith, Lawrence December (Street team representative), Allistair Griffith and Ryan Patterson pose with the trophies up for grabs

At the launch ceremony (L-R) Carlos Griffith, Lawrence December (Street team representative), Allistair Griffith and Ryan Patterson pose with the trophies up for grabs

There will be a “kick to goal” competition for females and spectators are also expected to be entertained with a mini gospel show that will feature entertainment by Ryan Patterson who also goes by the stage name, DC speaker; JC Messengers and Quakers among others.
Addressing the media at Tuesday’s launch, in Tucville, cordinators of the event Carlos Griffith and Allistar Griffith lamented that the event is suited for the entire family and should not be missed.
Teams interested in registering may contact Carlos on 695-3320 or Allistar on 677-5116.
The winning team will cart off with $50,000 with $40,000, $30,000 and $20,000 going to the second, third and fourth placed teams respectively.
Admission is $400 for adults while children under the age of 10 will be admitted free. Kick off time is 8:30 Hrs.
Sponsors of the event are Banks DIH, National Sports Commission, Guyana National Newspaper Limited, the Guyana Football Federation and Trophy Stall.

RHTY&SC, Beharry’s 5-over cricket to start soon

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), M.S and the Edward B. Beharry and Company Limited would shortly be unveiling the second edition of their joint ‘Say No to Drugs, Crime and Suicide and Yes to Education, Sports and Life Campaign.’
The 2016 edition would target youths in Regions Five and Six and would have the ‘B’ Division of the Guyana Police Force and the Region Six Department of the Ministry of Education as partners.

Flashback! Representatives of the Beharry Group and the RHTY&SC display the banner at the launch of the competition in 2015

Flashback! Representatives of the Beharry Group and the RHTY&SC display the banner at the launch of the competition in 2015

As part of an expanded programme for 2016, a five-over ‘Say No to Suicide’ cricket tournament would be organised for 40 teams across Berbice. The Ancient County would be divided into four sub-divisions – West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne.
Ten teams would come from each sub-division and they would play each other in a one day tournament before moving on to the grand finals. The top three teams from each zone would move on to the finals, where the winning team would receive a winner’s prize of $150,000 and a trophy, the losing finalist $75,000 and trophy and the third place $25,000 and trophy.
The winner of each zone would carry home a prize package of $15,000.
RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, stated that the tournament would be used by the organisers to promote the ‘Say No and Say Yes’ messages to numerous villages across the county, and as such each zones would be given a theme to be promoted.
West Berbice’s theme shall be ‘Say No to Suicide’, New Amsterdam/Canje – ‘Say No to Drugs’, Lower Corentyne – ‘Say No to Crime’ and Central/Upper Corentyne – ‘Say Yes to Life, Education and Sports.’
A senior officer of the Guyana Police Force would address teams before the start of each zone tournament and the grand finals. Clubs taking part in the tournament would also be provided with posters and youth information booklets for them to promote the messages in their respective areas.
Teams in the tournament would only be allowed to play two first division players who have played a combined four matches in 2015 and 2016, while players who are debarred from playing second division by the Berbice Cricket Board would not be allowed to play.
Bowlers would only be allowed to bowl one over per game, while only two players would be allowed out of the 30-yard circle in the first over. For the remaining four overs, a maximum of four fielders would be allowed out of the circle.
In an effort to create excitement for spectators, the organisers would also award a six for any boundary scored off a free hit, while eight runs would be given for a six hit off a free hit.
Matches that are tied would be decided on a Super Over. The organisers would provide umpires for the tournament, music set/PA System for every venue and balls for the finals.
The RHTY&SC, M.S would like to extend an official invitation to clubs across Berbice to enter the competition on a come first basis. Teams can contact the club on telephone number 337-4562 or email [email protected] before May 20.
Notably, teams would also have to submit a 15-man squad and clearly state their two first division players.

Ivelaw Griffith is UG’s new Vice Chancellor

The University of Guyana has announced the appointment of its new Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith. He will be the University of Guyana’s 10th Vice Chancellor.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the University stated that Professor Griffith was selected after an exhaustive national, regional and international search; shortlisting of three candidates and evaluation based on a series of lectures, the candidates’ credentials and an interview by the Search Committee appointed by the UG Council.
Griffith, who has the honour of being the first person in the history of the University of Guyana to graduate with Distinction in Political Science in 1980, has an outstanding record as a scholar, academic leader and teacher.
Professor Griffith has held a number of leadership posts, including at Fort Valley State University in Georgia (2013-2015); Provost and Senior Vice President at York College in New York (2007-2013); Provost at Radford University in Virginia (2006-2007); Dean of the Honours College at Florida International University (2001-2006) and Budget Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida International University (1998-2001).
The new Vice Chancellor has been a visiting scholar at the Perry Centre for Hemispheric Defence Studies in Washington DC, the Royal Military College in Canada and the George Marshall European Centre for Security Studies in Germany.
UG statement added, “He was one of 45 experts commissioned by the OAS Secretary General to review hemispheric drug policies and practices and offer anti-drug scenarios. For his exceptional work in his field of expertise, he was awarded the 2015 William J Perry Award named in honour of former United States Defence Secretary, Dr William J Perry.”
In addition to his Bachelor of Social Science (Political Science, with Distinction) degree from the University of Guyana, he also secured a Diploma in Communications from UG. Moreover, he holds a Master of Arts degree from Long Island University in New York and a Master of Philosophy and PhD in Political Science from the City University of New York Graduate School. Further, he completed the programme in Educational Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Chancellor Nigel Harris said “the University of Guyana welcomes Professor Ivelaw Griffith whose scholarly achievements and leadership experience are well suited to the central role he must play in transforming the institution”.

APNU/AFC MIA as spiralling crime is crippling Guyana

APNU and AFC are obsessively preoccupied with celebrating the JUBILEE and celebrating their own first anniversary in Government. It is right to celebrate the JUBILEE. Fifty years of Independence is an achievement that we must celebrate, even if Guyana did not turn out exactly the way we had hoped. Even if I believe that APNU/AFC has done a miserable job in Government over the past year, I concede it has every reason to celebrate its first anniversary.
But the JUBILEE and the first anniversary of APNU/AFC in Government cannot abrogate the responsibility of Government to ensure that the business of Guyana is on the front burner. APNU/AFC has abdicated its duties to the citizens of Guyana. As crimes cripple Guyana, APNU/AFC is dedicating all resources to the JUBILEE and the first anniversary of APNU/AFC. They refuse to be distracted from what they have made the only game in town.
It is impossible for anyone, no matter which side we belong to and no matter who we might have voted for, to deny that crime has reached unprecedented levels in Guyana. There are brutal instances of armed robberies and murders every day. The news headlines are consistent with more and more daring criminal activities. Just a few days ago, the criminal storming of the Ramada Hotel Casino stirred shock waves and disbelief for many. Recently, there was an armed robbery opposite the Albion Police Station. There seems no safe place in our country.
The murders of the rice farming, elderly couple in Region Three was so brutal that a lady in West Berbice broke out in tears. She did not know the couple, but the report that the couple perished after robbers set their property on fire and deliberately burnt them alive was not only shocking to people but created enormous fear that they are not safe in their homes. These kinds of stories have become commonplace in Guyana today. People are locked up in their own homes becoming prisoners of the criminals who roam freely. Businesses are closed early as people try to secure their properties and their lives.
In the meantime, APNU/AFC is clueless. The Minister of Public Security most of the time appears Missing In Action (MIA). In an era when APNU/AFC pursues governance with Commissions of Inquiry (CoI) for everything, it sees no need to have an inquiry into the exploding crime situation. It maintains that the situation is under control and that it is doing everything possible to ensure law and order. Prisoners die in a prison fire and there is an immediate CoI. But crime spirals out of control and Government is oblivious.
The President is more consumed to pardon another 57 prisoners as a JUBILEE gift. This is in addition to dozens of others who have been pardoned and several of whom have been engaged in new crimes. The Minister is busy moving officers around while insulting people who call for his resignation. This is the same Minister who aggressively and mercilessly called for the previous Minister to resign because of the crime situation in Guyana.
Ordinary citizens have been clamouring for more attention and for the Government to take urgent action to stem the raging tide of increasing crime. The Private Sector Commission has urged the Government to show greater urgency because the crime situation is not only affecting their personal lives, but is a major impediment in the business environment. The Berbice Chambers of Commerce has requested a meeting with Ramjattan to no avail.
In fact, APNU/AFC has maintained it is busy at this time with the JUBILEE and it has all hands on deck with the celebration. As crime each day reach new heights, we are told that it will respond after the JUBILEE. Crime is not a priority at this time and APNU/AFC chastises people for trying to put everyday issues such as crime on the agenda for action today.
Hundreds of millions of dollars have been dedicated to the JUBILEE and hundreds of Police Officers are working towards ensuring a successful JUBILEE. Police Officers are engaged in stopping vehicles each day and asking for a raise. Can Nagamootoo and Harmon tell us how many vehicles were stopped and asked for a raise during their sojourn in Region Six last week? Police Officers stopped vehicles asking for a raise to get a drink because they were assigned to be on the road all day long.
WE do not object to APNU/AFC making a great big effort to have an amazing JUBILEE and to celebrate its own first anniversary. It has every right to do so. But we object to it abdicating its responsibility as a government. Crime cannot be on the back burner because of JUBILEE.