Dear Editor,
The sudden rise of crime in our country is now a concern for all Guyanese citizens, and the re-introduction of blackouts makes it easier for thieves and criminals to escape very easily. A few days ago bandits invaded NAREI not too far from where I live, and one staff member barely escaped death.
A popular supermarket in Agriculture Road was robbed over ten times in a very short period of time; no one was apprehended by the police. Even when these bandits and criminals are arrested they are represented by some high-ranking lawyers in court and very soon are released to go out and commit crimes against innocent citizens again. The death penalty should be enforced for these hardcore criminals who kill innocent citizens, robbing them in the process.
Why is it criminals are set free on bail? Why is it they are freed when caught by the police?
Why is it lawyers represent big-time criminals, though they know these are a menace to our society? It seems as if our legal practitioners can do anything for money.
Just recently bandits went into a church and robbed the congregation; none were caught. What have we become as a nation for people to stoop so low as to rob churches and their members during worship? We have fallen morally, spiritually and intellectually. Thieves are everywhere in this country. It’s not very safe to park your car in Georgetown with any kind of valuables because thieves will break into your car in minutes; they will even steal your car or strip it of the lights and wheels. Then we have the pickpockets and choke-and-rob thieves in broad daylight. Now we have bicycle and motorbike thieves who include soldiers and even members of the police force; it’s difficult now for citizens to distinguish the thieves from the military and police ranks because thieves are wearing police and military uniforms to carry out their robberies.
Our present administration has been ruling this nation for 22 years and yet the security of our people is getting from bad to worse. Citizens are getting robbed when they are coming from the USA on their way home from the airport. It seems as if someone at the airport is giving criminals information about people’s addresses. One Pastor from Good Hope was greeted by the bandits in his yard when he arrived with guests. He was beaten, nearly died and was robbed along with his overseas guests. No one has been arrested in that matter. Folks coming out of the banks are greeted by the bandits when they arrive home. They know exactly who is transacting business in the banks and where they are going and where they live. Sooner or later citizens won’t bank their money because of criminal elements who lurk around the banks daily.
Many bandits will go into the banks and sit for hours to observe customers. The banks have no laws for the lawless; any Tom, Dick and Harry can idle around inside and outside our banks to rob customers. The banks’ security systems are very weak until one bank was robbed in Berbice a few years ago.
In every village and town in this country thieves and criminals can be seen idling at street culverts smoking dope or drinking; they lime in shops and bars, and then just pounce on innocent citizens. They don’t work; they either push drugs or ‘thief.’
Our politicians just turn a blind eye to these idlers and thieves, and though our citizens are robbed and killed it doesn’t appear to bother our police commissioner and our so-called law-makers. Even schoolboys today are involved in criminal activities.
I was wondering what had become about this emergency so-called SWAT team our erudite Home Affairs Minister was talking about. Was this SWAT team ever established? How does it function? What is the purpose of the GDF, or our sleeping army? Why is it they don’t get out into the streets to arrest thieves and be posted to guard every government building. If the army cannot protect our citizens then they should be fired completely and a new efficient army should be established.
If we enforce stricter laws then the crime will stop. If we don’t enforce stricter laws to eradicate crime and criminals sooner or later criminals will run this nation by brutal force and ignorance. What plans do our existing administration have to tackle this crime situation in Guyana?
We have now become a ghetto society. People are no longer safe in their homes and businesses, that’s why they are leaving Guyana like sandflies daily. It’s about time our President got serious about the crime situation and implement more serious laws. Citizens need licensed firearms to protect themselves from bandits. We need to close down all these illegal and some legal rum shops that are a safe haven for criminal elements.
I call on all stakeholders, NGOs, churches and law-abiding citizens to speak out against the rise of crime in our country; our nation Guyana is too young to die.
Yours faithfully,
Rev Gideon Cecil
