The Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce has deplored two recent murders in Berbice and says the people of the county are demanding protection from the government.
A statement from the Chamber last week said, “Instead of focusing on business development this is the fourth press release by this Chamber in the last six months dealing with crime as the major issue. (The) Berbice business community is sick and tired of the crime situation in the region.”
The Chamber was referring to the murders of Corentyne businesswoman Su Di Wong, 44, two Sundays ago after two bandits invaded her Number 57 Village, Corentyne, Berbice premises shortly before 8 pm and Caitanya Kishundyal, 21, son of a prominent businessman, of Lot 28 First Street, Swamp Section, Rose Hall, Berbice who died around 8 pm on two Fridays ago in the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital. He was shot by a gunman during a confrontation at his gate two days before his death. The Chamber questioned the Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and President David Granger on their solutions to the crime situation. The Chamber said it was of the belief that, “The upsurge of crimes in Berbice are committed mostly by teenagers, and we strongly feel the President’s insistence of pardoning this group serving time in prison is certainly sending the wrong signals.”
The release further said that instead of pardoning criminals regardless of age, offenders should know “this will not be tolerated in society and they will have to pay the price.” The release added that, businesses won’t consider expanding in this environment “resulting in more unemployment and a contraction in economic activities.”
The Chamber argued that “business significantly declined since the last elections, and with the uncertain future of sugar, the mainstay of the Berbice economy, the future is looking very dim.”
Berbice is demanding security and protection from its government, the release added.
