Saying that the Government has a more “emphatic” approach towards crime and violence, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn yesterday argued in the National Assembly that serious crime decreased by 20 percent between 2015 and 2022.
“Mr Speaker we have always drawn the link between political activity, crime and violence….Mr Speaker, the overall decrease in the crime statistics between 2015 and 2022 is a decrease of 20.6 percent. We have reduced total robbery, serious crime, murder and violence by average figure of 20 percent,” Benn yesterday said during his budget contribution.
After focusing on a number of other sectors, Benn yesterday morning shifted his attention to crime and security in response to heckling from the Opposition side of the House of “let’s talk security”.
Throughout his contribution, Benn paused continuously amidst loud heckling from the other side of the house.
“Of course, crime is a serious problem,” Benn told the National Assembly before he moved on to provide the statistics.
“Mr Speaker time would not (be available), given the issues that I have to particularly deal with, to deal comprehensively with the issues of crime and violence. I have said that it has reduced. I am saying that it has a lot to do with our support to the Guyana Police Force,” Benn said.
He contended that there has been a reduction in all categories of crimes. “With the provision of new vehicles, with new training, with new efforts in respect of crime and violence and the prevention and mitigation of that,” he said.
Additionally, he said there have been “dramatic” increases in the seizures of narcotics. “We have had more arrests in respect to illegal, unlawful activities,” Benn added.
He told the National Assembly that while there has been an increase in the prison population, efforts are being made through the various programmes to educate and reintegrate inmates into society following their release.
Within the past two years and a half, there have been a number of fires at public buildings, which have raised concerns about the need for increased security to protect state assets.
In a bid to increase its fire-fighting capability, Benn said the Government will be procuring seven “new fire assets” and three modern ambulances. “Other than those that we bought in last year,” he said.
The Government has allocated $58.6 billion towards public safety and security in the 2023 budget.
