Dear Editor,
While President Bharrat Jagdeo is only now holding meetings to get ideas on how to stop the criminal slaughter of citizens nationwide, the consensus of the sensible majority of Guyanese seems obvious: the immediate capture of this murderous gang is the most pressing of national priorities.
Most people think it is time to take the gloves off, but the trouble is the government was not in the ring in the first place!
After the Lusignan and Bartica massacres most people are ready to give the government whatever leeway it needs to bring an end to the ongoing butchery being committed by this specific gang of gruesome killers. But is the government capable of using the public’s go-ahead for effective and tough crime fighting?
According to the Stabroek News of February 20 the Jagdeo government apparently sees itself as having little direct responsibility for bringing an end to this particularly bloody crime wave. “As President I can only give the resources and encouragement to the security forces,” Mr Jagdeo said, perhaps defining the extent of his government’s capacity in crime fighting at this time.
The ongoing criminal rampage, according the president, is more of a police matter than one perhaps requiring the full attention of the government. Mr Jagdeo pinpointed responsibility, insisting that it is the security forces who “are the people who have to go after the criminals.” All he can pledge is his “full support,” he said
Imagine being told that local security forces are in charge of crime fighting at the same time as the press is reporting that the killer gang, wearing combat gear, operating with military precision, and with sophisticated firepower have in fact attacked some of the very security forces the president insists are our only hope for protection and defence.
The security forces can’t even protect themselves, Mr Jagdeo! Wake up. Stop sleep-walking through this national nightmare!
“Mark my words,” I said just after the Lusignan atrocity, “until a competent group from overseas is hired to hunt down killer bandits . . . bodies will continue to fall.”
Now we have the Bartica bloodbath and the criminal gang which mercilessly slays our citizens remains at large to strike again with impunity.
Yours faithfully,
Justin de Freitas
