Assistant Superintendent of Police, Jiaram Ramlakhan has promised to continue a “rigid campaign” in West Berbice to free the communities of drugs and said police are on top of the situation.
Acknowledging that there is lots of drug use and peddling in certain communities, the officer-in-charge of the Berbice sub-division said the eradication can be done successfully with the help of the Neighbourhood Police (NP) and the Community Policing Groups (CPG).
Speaking to residents on Friday afternoon during a face-the-community meeting and hamper distribution organized by members of the Cotton Tree CPG, Ramlakhan said that several arrests have been made.
On Friday, officers from the Blairmont Station arrested two men for being in possession of 2,467 grammes of marijuana.
Police conducted a raid and unearthed the drugs in the men’s home at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice after receiving information. They are expected to face charges soon.
And in a separate matter, another man from Rosignol, Kimal James, 41, was charged on Thursday for having five marijuana plants in his possession. He pleaded not guilty and has been remanded to prison.
Ramlakhan said too that there is “zero tolerance for domestic violence and noise nuisance. Domestic violence is worse than just slapping someone on the road. As soon as the report is lodged the abuser can be locked up.”
With regards to noise nuisance, he said that it was wrong for persons to play loud music to disturb others. He said too that persons need to have the relevant licences to carry out activities which will feature loud music.
According to him, the NP and CPG members were working along with the police to solving these problems. Some CPG members are currently undergoing training at the Fort Wellington Station to write statements.
Hampers
Residents also witnessed the handing over of food hampers worth $36,000 by the recently resuscitated Cotton Tree CPG to six elderly persons.
The hampers were made possible through donations from businesses and individuals including Feroze’s Grocery, Ally’s Bakery and Stretch D Dollar Supermarket.
Regional Vice-chairman, Rion Peters also recognized that drug and alcohol abuse are the main problems in the community and said the youths are being “dragged down” because of it.
He called on residents to assist in the eradication of the problem as it leads to neglect and other forms of abuse. He commended the group for remembering the less fortunate by providing the hampers, which other CPGs have been doing as well.
Chairman of the CPG, Dharamdeo Seenarine promised that the group would continue to assist the community. He said they intend to purchase a tarpaulin and a few benches that they would lend to residents.
Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Shameer Ally said he was pleased with the initiative and encouraged the group to keep up the good work.
He promised that the NDC would support the CPG and that they should not hesitate to write to him if they need any assistance.
Also making brief remarks were the president of the ‘B’ Division CPG, Krishna Seelall, liaison officer, Narine Chattergoon and station sergeant, Cynthia Kelly.
