Dear Editor,
Guyanese home and abroad have been expressing deep outrage and horror at the brutal slaying of Mr Roopnarine Ramodit whose life ended tragically at the hands of criminals within hours of returning on a visit to Guyana from his home in Minnesota, USA. This terrible tragedy will of course remind all of us of what a dangerous society Guyana has become. Over the last few years, we have seen overseas-based Guyanese who returned home being ready targets for criminals. Today the problem seems to have worsened. Almost daily there is a vicious criminal attack resulting in the loss of life of an innocent person; criminals seem to have no regard for time or place, as they act with a sense of confidence and ease indicating some degree of assurance on their part that they will not be caught or pursued. Every Guyanese is caught up in this vicious, and sometimes fatal, cycle of crime, and every county, region, town and village seems to be a target for the criminals.
On January 4, Linden businessman, Albert Joseph (aka Bolo) was shot by a gunman who entered his premises and robbed him; he succumbed from his wound four days later. On Monday January 17, Bourda Market vendor, Sanjay Persaud was shot and robbed of his jewellery while he was having a light moment on Regent and Bourda Streets with his friends; he succumbed a few hours later. A few weeks prior to that a Regent Street wristwatch vendor had been shot and robbed minutes after he exited a minibus to head home; he too succumbed to his injuries. On January 1, minutes into the New Year, a young man was gunned down in a New Amsterdam store, after it was invaded by gun-wielding bandits. I know there are many other acts of criminal violence and robbery which have been committed in this less than month-old year, but space will not allow me to cite them all. However, the picture is clear. All petty thieves have now graduated, and are engaged in vicious crimes; they all sport firearms, clearly indicating that guns can be easily had. Too many guns are on the streets, and it appears that ‘gun runnings’ might be the most lucrative and expanding industry in Guyana. The government appears oblivious to or unconcerned about this situation.
Instead they are more interested in hijacking the people’s programme and engaging in petty squabbles.
Guyanese need to know whether the government has a master plan to fight crime. If it does, it surely is not working or needs some serious revamping. There are too many crimes that remain unsolved; there are too many victims lined up waiting for justice; and way too many children are caught up in criminal gangs.
While we cannot eradicate crime from our society, we at least must work to stem the tide. A master plan to tackle the problem needs to be unveiled, and in that plan the nation must also be told how government intends to create jobs for our youths.
The longer the government pussyfoots around with this issue the more dangerous the environment becomes. Many Guyanese believe that the government has no clue about how to solve the problem, while others believe that they might not be interested in frontally attacking the problem. Many, therefore, find it strange that the government would refuse British help to reform the security sector and I, myself, am still baffled by that decision.
The Home Affairs Minister calls on the police to be prepared for elections, which are probably more than seven months down the road, but fails to tell us what system he has in place to ensure we are secure now.
I hope that Guyanese will use the power in their hands to change the direction in which we are heading; we have the power to do it, Let us vote to stamp out this scourge of crime and corruption. We either swim together or sink together; none of us is exempted from the dangers that lurk around. My sincere condolences go out to all the families who have lost loved ones since the year began.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor