In light of safety concerns raised by residents, including business owners, in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Regional Chairman Kenneth Williams has said security has been beefed up in the region.
During a telephone interview with Stabroek News on Thursday, Williams said a Regional Intelligence Committee meeting was held on Wednesday during which the issue was discussed “extensively”.
During the meeting, he said a decision was taken and an assurance was given by Police Commander Dion Moore of increased security across the region.
“We recognise that this area is an area that has always had problems based on the ‘Syndicatos’ [a Venezuelan criminal gang] and all those who traverse back and forth. It’s not unusual. It is not different,” Williams told Stabroek News.
According to Williams, additional forces has been dispatched to the bordering communities across the region. He said it is anticipated that this will result in a reduction in criminal activities.
“I have been assured that things are going to get better and all these security issues and criminal activities might reduce…. There is going to be a reduction of crime, reduction of criminal activities because of the increased resources… being earmarked for that area,” he said.
The Regional Chairman admitted that Region Seven is a “difficult” area to patrol. “We recognize the challenges but we also accept that we have to control it and put the right forces in place,” Williams said.
Following the murder of Brazilian national Edmilson Dos Santos at his Eteringbang business place last week, residents had told this newspaper that the area was not safe.
A relative of Dos Santos, who is also a business owner had related that the Eteringbang area is not safe for persons to operate their business. “There they have these Syndicatos. They coming from Venezuela. They would go there, rent and if you talk anything about them or tell the police about them or whatsoever they come to you in that manner,” the woman explained.
“The place isn’t safe…There is a lot of business there but you don’t know who is who…That place really need security there. They have a lot of business, hotel, big supermarket and so and everybody just walking through and coming over including these Syndicatos,” she added.
In an invited comment on Thursday, Moore told Stabroek News that ranks from the Joint Services including members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), were in the region.
If a situation arises and there is a need for additional security, Moore said it will be provided. “…Security personnel are on the ground there. There are ranks of the joint services comprising… the police and the army at Eteringbang,” he said.
