Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine recently said that the police force’s statistics show with the exception of ‘D’ Division, gun robberies are on the decrease, contrary to public fears of an increase.
Ramnarine, during a press conference held at Eve Leary on October 22, said that in 2015 there were 80 reports in ‘A’ Division, 18 reports in ‘C’ Division and 6 reports in ‘D’ Division for the period September 1, to October 20, compared with 74, 16 and 22 respectively in the divisions, for the same period this year.
To further illustrate the decrease, he said that for the period October 1 to October 20, in 2014 there were 34 reports in ‘A’ Division, there were 6 in ‘C’ Division and in 4 in ‘D’ Division.
In 2015, he said, there were 38, 7 and 4 reports, respectively, in each division. In 2016, he added, the figures were 20, 7 and 8, respectively.
He said that what is clear is that over the last three years in ‘D’ Division there has been an increase in reports of robberies involving the use of guns.
Ramnarine said he had been observing some statements made by “important individuals” about the crime situation and it was important for him, as the person heading the force at present, to give a response. He stressed that the “other side of the story” needs to be made public, while noting that there have also been attempts to discuss and debate “the story of the crime figures and some insinuations about fabrications and concoctions….”
Ramnarine also cited recent crimes that he said illustrated that the police force is not to be blamed. He cited the robbery of a Banks DIH truck on the East Coast, which was staged and a robbery committed on the seawall due to the carelessness of the victim.
Although Ramnarine did not single out anyone, he appeared to be referring to statements made former president Bharrat Jagdeo and retired army Chief of Staff Brigadier General Mark Phillips.
Two days before Ramnarine’s press conference, Jagdeo had told reporters that crime had never been as bad as it is now.
“It has never been this bad. People are now robbing hospitals [and] they went into two hotels. When you start going into hotels, robbing hotels, then that sends a strong signal on tourism. If criminals can go into a hotel and rob it, soon they might go into funeral parlours, who knows,” he said.
A day later, Phillips, while addressing a security forum and expo organised by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called gun crimes the “most pressing problem” facing the country and urged collaboration with the police to ensure safety and security.
“Notwithstanding the statistics that speak to a reduction in crime… It is my firm belief… that the high incidence of gun-related crimes is today the most pressing problem in our Guyanese society,” he told those gathered. He made it clear that he was not trying to cast blame on the police for the less-than-desirable crime situation.
Ramnarine said that he has seen a call for greater collaboration. “What do some of these stakeholders really do? How valuable or invaluable… are their contributions? What is the level of concern for public safety and security that they have?” he questioned, while adding that some of those who make these calls have “ulterior motives. “They have an axe to grind. They thrive on deception. They conveniently speak when it best suits them.”
He said that some of the statements recently made served to “embolden criminal elements… glorify and support the actions of criminal elements because of the contextual nature in which a few serious crimes, in particular those involving the use of firearms, are glamourized and emphasized.”
He said there is an acceptable level of support from some NGOs, key ministries, community policing groups, corporate society and the religious community. He further said that the force has commenced and will maintain and sustain the expansive social crime prevention programme started two years ago.
“In all of this, we have never shirked our responsibilities to the citizens of this country. We never will. We cannot. And we will continue to discharge our responsibilities,” he said.
Last Friday, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), while describing the crime situation as of “national concern,” called on the president and the government to not only publicly admit there is a problem but to send a strong signal to criminals that crime will not be tolerated.
“Our citizens are traumatized by fear of almost every day having a gun pointed at them with criminal intent. Our businesses, our banks, our tourism industry and our everyday lives are under threat. This is not the good life. It is time that our President intervenes,” PSC Chairman Edward Boyer said at a press conference.
Concerns were expressed at the ease with which criminals are accessing guns. The PSC also asked for a review of the granting of bail and the sentencing of persons charged with armed and violent robberies.
PSC member Kit Nascimento, in response to questions posed by this newspaper, said that that when it comes to collaborative efforts, the private sector keeps its door “wide open to be consulted. We are not sure that that is reciprocated on the other side. We have a great deal of expertise in the private sector.” Nascimento added that fellow PSC member Major General (Retd) Norman McLean had submitted documented advice “that is seldom, if ever, taken onboard.” He said there needs to be a “revolving door” so that each side is well aware that there is the willingness to help.
