As it has done several times in recent years, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday expressed concern over the crime situation and said it was seeking a joint meeting with Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and Police Commissioner, Leslie James.
In recent week both Ramjattan and James have sought to assure that crime is not as bad as it is being made out to be.
The PSC however remains unconvinced.
In a statement, it said that the Governance and Security Committee of the PSC met yesterday “to address the increasing and wide-spread public concern over the manifestly frightening and disturbing incidents of violent crime across the country”.
As a result, the PSC said that the Committee decided to request a joint meeting with the Minister of Public Security and Commissioner of Police on the matter.
The PSC said that while it acknowledges the most recent success of the police in confronting violent crime in Berbice and recognises the continuing efforts of the police to meet this growing challenge threatening the safety and well-being of every citizen, the Commission believes that much more can and should be done to meet this challenge. The mention of Berbice referred to a police operation in Black Bush Polder two weeks ago which led to the killing of three robbery suspects. Critics have however said that that particular operation left many questions unanswered and was reflective of much-maligned police operations in the past where suspects are shot dead under questionable circumstances and without any answers being given to the public.
“The Commission is deeply concerned that insufficient progress is being made with regards to the implementation of Security Sector Reform.
“The Commission believes that there is considerable room for enhancement in intelligence gathering and analysis than is currently in place.
“The Commission is convinced of the need for significantly greater human and financial resources being placed at the disposal of the police force.
“The Commission believes that there is a much greater need for public confidence and trust in the Police Force”, the PSC said, adding that it looks forward to a strong and uncompromising standard of leadership in our security forces.
In recent months, the country has seen a spate of murders and armed robberies and a poor response by the police.
