Dear Editor,

The editorial of Stabroek News March 2, 2010 asks: “What is the point in having a community policing group [in Enmore] if it cannot protect its weakest members?” It is unmistakable that the editor’s thrust was really against money expended on community policing groups although a simultaneous attempt was made to bruise the Guyana Police Force and the administration at large. I wish to ask the editor, how come Stabroek News, with all its tentacles nationwide and investigative capabilities, did not know of the abuse either? Hindsight is always 20/20 vision.

For the benefit of the goodly editor of Stabroek News, Enmore is indeed one of the better functioning community policing groups in Guyana. But, like your newspaper or the Guyana Police Force, it operates with information. Securing the community does not mean peeping into what goes on behind closed doors if information there from is not forthcoming.

Community policing is a voluntary effort by the membership nationwide, and expenditure in this direction has more positives than negatives. The editor’s emotional outburst, hopefully temporary, has clouded recognition of the work done by community policing groups in curtailing crime nationwide. This is acknowledged openly by the Guyana Police Force.

Please let us not knock those who give of their time pro bono. Let us encourage them. These people spend out of their pockets for fuel, vehicle repairs, firearms, etc. The Ministry of Home Affairs seeks to alleviate some of these pressures. The net effect is safer communities.

But ensuring that every person is safe in a community cannot realistically be put at the doorstep of community policing. Every household has the responsibility to contribute to its own safety, or otherwise.

Surely, the editor could have proffered some solution(s) to deal with the issue(s) raised.

Yours faithfully,
Taajnauth Jadunauth
Member of Enmore
Policing Group