Dear Editor,
The PPP/C Government must understand that crime, i.e., robberies, shoplifting and home invasions among others cannot be reduced by building additional prisons and offering training to inmates. This will never result in a significant reduction in the sky-high crime rate in Guyana. Remember, there are hardly any job opportunities here. Also, let us not forget that a significant number of Guyanese are forced out of this country daily in search of jobs all over the world. In an environment like this, criminals will relapse into crime. Further, the PPP/C Government ignored the fact that the primary factors driving the abnormal crime rate include: bad government contracts, government corruption, inefficiencies in government, widespread political appointments, prime land deals going to government officials, their friends and family, suppression of free speech and lack of job opportunities largely due to our government’s actions. Further, these are the very factors driving an assortment of problems like suicide, emigration, alcoholism, unemployment, dysfunction and school drop outs. All of which are all abnormally high. Our government essentially destroys lives. Crime fighting needs to be tackled from within the current government and there will be no need to build more prisons. Anyone can easily arrive at this conclusion by examining the current situation in this country. And sadly, it needs to be pointed out that largely criminals and those who are hurt by criminals are all victims of this government.
Sincerely,
Annie Baliram
