On the heels of the United States Embassy issuing a security alert advising its staff against visiting the Stabroek Market alone and to use extreme caution at the Bourda market, in Georgetown, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday said it was ramping up security in the areas.
However, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn was also quick to point out that the GPF’s actions were not reactive but merely coincidental as ramped up security in those areas had been planned since last November.
The alert, issued on Monday, noted that the city of Georgetown is rated “critical” for crime. “Incidents of robberies, sexual assault, vehicle accidents and homicides have occurred, particularly in high-risk areas after dark,” it said. “U.S. mission personnel may not independently visit Stabroek Market. Further-more, Mission personnel have been advised to use extreme caution when visiting Bourda Market during the day and may not independently visit Bourda Market at night,” it added, before advising staffers to avoid high risk areas, minimize movements after dark and to keep a low profile.
Questioned by the Stabroek News on what prompted the alert, the Embassy explained that security alerts are issued based on country-specific risk indicators. “The Stabroek and Bourda markets have seen increased criminal activity, and an alert was deemed necessary,” it said in response.
The Embassy explained to this newspaper that its security alerts are designed to provide “actionable advice for U.S. citizens.”
“They can change in advance of or in response to temporary events, such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and political events,” the Embassy added.
Meanwhile, the GPF in a statement said it had held a “high level meeting” between the Mayor of Georgetown and hierarchy of the GPF on Tuesday.
It noted that Police Commander of 4 A Division, Assistant Commissioner Simon McBean met with M&CC’s Chief Con-stable Mr. V. Gafur as they sought to implement strategies to bring public safety to the market areas. “Both representatives of the two agencies, in the company of other officers, commenced a strategy walkabout in the Stabroek Market area and began to map out strategies for collaboration and policing in and around the public thoroughfares,” the GPF statement said.
“The GPF will immediately provide resources to the City Council to have visible police presence in the areas and will continue further collaborative efforts to enhance public safety,” it added.
The Minister of Home Affairs was quick to point out that while the announcement of measures to be implemented came yesterday, the process of beefed up security has been in place since November.
“GPL has been working at this since November last [year]… without the fanfare…congestion is the last outstanding issue to be progressed,” Benn said in the disciplined forces WhatsApp press group.
“US timing is coincidental…!!!” he added.
Benn said that the police can also give data to this end. “Police can give numbers on arrests, seizures etc. for area…Since November!!” he stressed.
He also announced that the congestion issue was also being looked at and measures to curb it will soon be instituted along with other security mechanisms. “Congestion issue…vendors to come off asphalt…additional cameras and route monitors for buses to be instituted” Benn said.
The public have long lamented the lack of security at the markets, especially the Stabroek Market, and immediate surrounding areas. The area under the clock has seen a number of robberies and most recently the shooting to death a teen bandit who had attempted to rob a police officer’s wife.
Complaints have been made that the congestion created by vendors aids in people’s pockets being ‘picked’ and their bags snatched, in plain sight of some vendors who do nothing to assist the victims.
