There was an 18% reduction in serious crimes last year as compared to 2009 even though there has been an increase in murders, Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee reported, with some 2,613 serious crimes being recorded as oppose to the 3,176 the previous year.
According to the minister–in a statement released during a press conference at his ministry last week Friday–in 2009 there were some 1,415 reports of robbery while in 2010 there were 1,157.
“The only worrying trend observed in the data was an increase in the reports of murders from117 in 2009 to 139, as at December 31, 2010, representing an increase of 19%,” the minister said.
He said the highest number of murders recorded in both years were the “disorderly” type–which are murders committed during domestic disputes or following an argument by persons who might be drinking. The minister said there is need for the level of violence in the country to be reduced and he urged that citizens avoid confrontational and violent behaviour in settling disputes.
He said 106 illegal firearms, including two sub-machine guns, were seized last year as compared to 98 in 2009.
The minister said this is an indication that there are people in society who acquire guns illegally and as such greater effort will be made by law enforcement to rid society of illegal weapons.
The minister said the force will redouble its efforts this year in addressing a reduction in murders.
Meanwhile, according to the minister the force was successful in dismantling the activities of several gangs that were contributing to the violence in society and he called on all stakeholders to support the force in this.
On the side of the country’s drug fighting effort, Rohee said there is now the Inter-Agency Committee on Security of at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and there have been several meetings during last year to discuss policies “and operational procedures treating with the safe movement of passengers, luggage, cargo and mail” with the aim of strengthening and maintaining a high level of security at the airport.
Through the work of the committee a new paper trail document system has been established along with a monitoring and the installation of an additional scanner in the check-in area.
Further, there has been a comprehensive review of the training of security staff at the airport and enhanced access by security personnel behind the conveyor belt.
The minister said the recommendations that emanated from the security integration workshop held at the airport last year June–after several pounds of cocaine had slipped pass security personnel at the airport and were only intercepted at the JFK International Airport–were vigorously pursued during the year, and to date several have been implemented.
The committee is chaired by the minister and a total of eight meetings were convened during last year.
But while the committee has been meeting drugs continue to slip through airport and only last week a young woman was held with almost 10 pounds of cocaine contained in milk tins at the JFK airport.
The drugs and the woman went through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
