The opposition coalition APNU+AFC, if elected into office, will develop a comprehensive public security plan that will identify the main causes of violent crimes in Guyana and the mechanisms for their prevention, according to its manifesto.
“No country can develop if its citizens live in constant fear of criminal attack. No family can be healthy if members are fearful and vulnerable. No entrepreneur would invest funds in an environment rife with crime and corruption,” the manifesto, which was launched on Thursday, says. “Therefore, there is urgent need for the implementation of the long ignored police reform recommendations to ensure that the police become a well-paid and effective agent for serving and protecting the population, rather than an instrument of oppression, as under the PPP,” it added.
According to the coalition, the PPP/C has plunged the country into a general crisis, which has constitutional, political, economic, social and cultural dimensions. It says there is growing evidence of social dysfunction, such as high suicide, school drop-out, domestic violence and emigration rates, which it blamed on the undermining of public safety and security after over a decade and a half of blatant constitutional violations; discriminatory and poorly executed economic programmes; dramatic widening of income disparities; the breakdown of the rule of law; executive abuse and lawlessness; pervasive and now endemic corruption; the increasing influence of narco-trafficking; the introduction of political death squads; increasing rates of white-collar and violent crime and criminality; armed robberies; and a high murder rate.
However, APNU+AFC promises to confront serious crimes—both blue and white collar—arrest the spread of organised gangs and improve public and personal security. The manifesto says that an APNU+AFC government will develop innovative strategies to enhance and support current police efforts to better serve the security needs of Guyana. “APNU+AFC, with the help of friendly foreign agencies like the FBI, Scotland Yard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, will provide leadership and support to the Joint Services to further develop the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime. APNU+AFC will provide resources to reduce the opportunity for criminals to corrupt the Joint Services,” the manifesto says.
It also says the coalition will appoint a specialised committee—to include national stakeholders and supported as appropriate by external agencies—with the objective of developing a comprehensive public security plan for early implementation.
According to the manifesto, the committee would be asked to pay special attention to reducing the high rate of murders, armed robberies, piracy, human trafficking and domestic violence, while improving policing and maintaining police teams and identifying ways of ensuring that police officers spend more time deterring, detecting, preventing and investigating crime.
Among other high priority areas are ensuring a state of readiness and the acquisition of expertise and forensic equipment, including DNA and other technology, to enable an effective response to emerging crimes, such as white-collar crime and money laundering, and others such as rape. The committee would also be asked to pay attention to implementing proposals for the reform and strengthening of the police and prison services, in line with the recommendations such as those made in the Disciplined Forces Commission report, especially with regard to training and recruitment, increasing salaries and conditions of service.
Among other areas of focus will be the reinforcing of police investigative capabilities, especially with regard to rebuilding a modern, efficient and effective criminal intelligence system and Criminal Investigation Department.
In addition, the manifesto says the committee would be asked to pay special attention to providing appropriate equipment for modern policing in Guyana’s terrain, such as aircraft, maritime craft, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the equipment needed to fight armed banditry, piracy, terrorism and other violent crimes.
Also promised is the elimination of “backtracking” and establishment of an immigration system that ensures that everyone understands that immigration will be controlled and that the rules will be firmly enforced.
It also pledges a credible National Drug Strategy Master Plan to suppress narco-trafficking, and arrest and punish traffickers.
Further, the transferring of functions not requiring police training to civilian agencies or trained employees was also highlighted. These include the inspection of vehicles for road fitness certificates, processing of passport applications, typing and secretarial work, and the serving of summonses and similar or related duties in rural areas.
The committee will also be tasked with improving recruitment standards to attract and retain competent personnel for an ethnically diverse police force by revitalising the cadetship scheme to bring the staffing levels up to the required strength, the manifesto says.
