For the first 172 days this year there has been approximately one murder every three days. Guns have been responsible for 33 per cent (all figures are rounded) of all deaths so far.

As at June 21, statistics compiled by Stabroek News revealed that there have been 55 murders. Chopping and battering together accounted for 25 per cent of murders while stabbing, burning, strangulation and other were responsible for 22 per cent, five per cent, four per cent and 11 per cent of killings, respectively.

There were 32 murders during the first quarter of the year and with only nine days left of the second quarter there have been 23 killings.
Among the cases which have sparked much interest and remain unsolved are (in order of occurrence) the execution-style murders of Vibert Weekes, Nicholas Hoyte, Rajendra Motilall Sonilall, Sidwell Dexter Collins and Jamal Beete.

When Mon Repos businessman Sonilall was executed on April 4 (the first of seven killings that month) the question of contract killings resurfaced.

The murders of Weekes, Hoyte, Collins and businessman Terry Bacchus are also suspected cases of contract killings.

Meanwhile, police have charged the reputed husband and an alleged hit man for the May 29, murder of Bibi Raffina Saymar.

It is alleged that Dennis Persaud paid accused hit man Troy Greene a quantity of money to kill the woman.