Dear Editor,
Within recent times we have noticed some outrageous acts committed by the police and the army, such as torture, wrongful arrests, robbery and murder. The Minister of Home Affairs and the President have a penchant for praising the joint services for work well done in the past, but what about the spate of robberies and killings that are carried out by corrupt elements in those services? Why are they silent now?
One would have to be afraid now to travel by river or even work in the mines in the interior.
Can the joint services be trusted now? These are the people who are supposed to offer protection to the citizens but they are the ones who are most feared now. The government as the employer and paymaster of the police and the army should take full responsibility for the situation.
In no modern-day democracy will the people tolerate their police and army getting involved in robbing and murdering civilians. This proves that there is a breakdown in law and order and discipline in Guyana, and that its people have not stood up and opposed these atrocities.
The President as Commander-in-Chief of the joint services owes the Guyanese nation an explanation about these atrocities.
Yours faithfully,
Balwant Persaud