Dear Editor,
Over the past months, I have been involved in numerous conversations about the rising crime rate. I have heard various perspectives and proposed strategies as to how the spiralling crime rate could be reduced. However, I would like to once again underscore the importance of professionals such as sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists and social scientists generally to a society. Their disciplines assist society in understanding the behaviour of its people, groups, institutions and the society as a whole. For too long professions like sociology and psychology were not treated with any level of importance in Guyanese society and did not play a key role in decision-making. As I study our society, I am realizing that there are so many fears among individuals and groups, and these fears influence decision-making at the individual, institutional and societal levels and hinder the progress and productivity of Guyana. There is a concept that ‘what we don’t understand we fear’, and we need our sociologists, psychologists and anthropologists to assist us in understanding the behaviour and varying dynamics of the society.
Nevertheless, on the point of the seemingly dramatic rising crime rate, my view is that Guyana is going through a transition. We have just had a change of government after approximately 23 years, which has led to numerous changes at the individual, institutional and societal levels. Criminal behaviour is a part of the general behaviour of our society, therefore it is quite possible for criminal behaviour to be impacted in one way or another by the current transition.
There is much uncertainty at this point and this is quite normal in circumstances such as these. Whenever there is a change in government or profound change, this could create uncertainty. In this case, the criminal behaviour has increased; it could have gone the other way because of the uncertainty; it could have been reduced. Perhaps while the country is going through this transition stage a more stringent security strategy should be implemented as a proactive measure.
However, while the exact reasons for the increase in the crime rate are unknown at this point, there are always specific causes which are associated with a particular type of behaviour, whether it be at the individual, institutional or societal level. Nonetheless, the government and the relevant institutions, such as the judiciary, law enforcement and overall, the criminal justice system, Ministry of Public Security, etc, still have a range of considerations available in their quest to solve this problem.
These institutions can apply the concept of uncertainty avoidance in addressing the problem of the rising crime rate, even though all the details on the possible causes for the increased criminal behaviour are not available. A key point to note is that, whenever there is extreme ambiguity, anxiety becomes intolerable. Anxiety causes people, even criminals to behave in certain ways. Technology, law and religion are ways society has developed to deal with uncertainty. Technology helps to avoid uncertainties caused by nature; the laws and rules are a way to prevent uncertainties in people’s behaviour, and religion on the other hand, helps to put into some perspective the uncertainty of our future as human beings.
While the relevant institutions may not know what is causing the rising crime wave, the law and rules can be used as a means of reducing the incidence of criminal behaviour.
It may be difficult to know when crimes will be committed, however, the law has established specific penalties attached to specific behaviours called criminal offences; this provides some degree of certainty as to how to address criminal behaviour. However, this is where the application of the law becomes critical in reducing the crime rate. Remember extreme ambiguity creates intolerable anxiety, therefore law enforcement, the criminal justice system and the judicial system have to reduce the ambiguity as to how these criminal matters will be addressed. For example, the way the law is applied to certain criminal activities which are increasing, such as, murders, sexual offences, robberies, etc, should be reviewed and given a higher priority.
They should be addressed with greater urgency and the maximum penalty should be applied where necessary.
The enforcement of the laws and rules are critical to the strategy of reducing the spiralling crime rate since these are the means within the control of the authorities at this stage. There is a saying that change comes either through something dramatic or through something traumatic, this is very relevant when one examines the process of change.
Generally, the judicial system, law enforcement and the criminal justice system are too sluggish and persons who commit criminal acts are aware of that; thus in addressing the situation, there is need for a radical change in the behaviour of these institutions.
Basically, these institutions need to get tougher on the application of the laws and rules.
Yours faithfully,
Audreyanna Thomas
