Serious crimes in Police ‘F’ Division have reached a 10-year low, although the occurrence of sexual offences has increased, according to Divisional Commander Rabindranauth Budhram.
The Commander was at the time engaging participants of the recently-concluded National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference on issues of public security in Guyana’s Hinterland.
According to Budhram, ‘F’ Division, which encompasses regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine, has seen a 52% reduction of serious crimes for the current period, compared to the corresponding period for 2015. This, he said, is a record low over 10 years.
In offering a statistical breakdown of serious crimes, it was noted that murders have been reduced by 29%; robbery by 67%; break and enter and larceny by 82%; and armed robbery by 67%.
On the other hand, Budhram alluded to the increase in the occurrence of sex offences, while noting that not all reported sexual offences are cases of rape.
When asked about the reasons for the prevalence of such cases in the interior, he pinpointed the culture of the Indigenous peoples and neglect on behalf of parents in some instances as just two of many other social factors that contribute to the prevalence of such crimes.
This being said, the Commander acknowledged the support given to the Police in ‘F’ Division by the ministries of Public Health and Social Protection in addressing such matters.
Considering the fact that his Division is tasked with policing the country’s hinterland, Budhram described the Division as being unique with regard to the challenges faced by his staff, some of which include the lack of access to transportation, limited telecommunication resources, and the distance between villages as well as language barriers.
Nevertheless, the Commander credited the reduction of serious crimes to the enhancement of resources in the Division.
This, he said includes the addition of 68 new police officers, which allows for increased police presence at various stations throughout the hinterland as well the addition of what he described as vehicles critical to policing the vast terrain of the interior.
“We have more ATVs [All-Terrain Vehicles], more boats, more outboard engines. We have seen the increase of resources at Lethem with horses. The Mounted Branch is now reintroduced to Lethem. They have a four-by-four pickup now, which they will use to do patrols. At Bartica, Region Seven, we have boats, additional boats and engines to patrol the Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Enachu, Issano and Kurupung areas. In Mabaruma, we have beefed-up there as well, with two more small boats attached to the Tamakay base, which is at the Waini mouth. They have been doing a lot of patrols,” Budhram explained.
He also acknowledged the support of individuals from areas where mining is prevalent as well as the contact shared between the Police Division and agencies such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, among others.
Additionally, he also made mention of social interventions by members of ‘F’ Division in communities across the hinterland, and he listed the establishment of youth groups as just one example of the work they undertake.
Meanwhile, when given the chance to voice their issues, several participants expressed concern over what they claim is an increase of drug use and trade within their villages, particularly those close to mining camps, while others decried the presence of corrupt police officers.
In response to the latter, Budhram pointed out that some ranks tend to become complacent or as they claimed corrupt when they have managed to fully familiarise themselves with their new posts. Thus, he assured the participants that ranks who police the hinterland will be rotated every three months as a means of preventing complacency and corruption.
Other concerns raised included the need for increased security systems in some villages and additional technical support for active policing groups in the hinterland, including the granting of firearm licences to villagers who would have turned over their firearms to law enforcement during the amnesty exercise.
