Traffic deaths, fires and murders saw sharp increases last year but overall there was a reduction in serious crime of 15.7%.
This is according to statistics provided by Minis-ter of Home Affairs Robeson Benn at a press conference yesterday to review 2023.
The stats showed that fatal accidents saw a dramatic increase in 2023, with a rise of 76.8% in fatalities compared to the previous year. Speeding was identified as the primary cause.
Efforts to improve road safety include enhancing driver education and training programmes, targeted awareness campaigns, improving infrastructure and road design, promoting the use of safety equipment, strengthening law enforcement and traffic regulations, and conducting research and data analysis.
The Minister said that the Guyana Fire Service faced significant challenges in 2023, with a 182.5% rise in the number of fires compared to 2022. Private and business buildings were the most impacted, with private buildings experiencing a 44.1% increase and business buildings seeing a 177.1% rise in fires.
Despite this, the number of government properties involved in fires decreased by 66.6%, with a reduced number of slightly damaged government buildings. There was, however, a significant increase in cases of deliberate setting of fires in government buildings, which saw a rise of 320.1%.
The issuance of fire safety certificates increas-ed, although fewer properties were saved from fire and a significant increase in properties destroyed by fire was noted. Recom-mendations on how to combat this issue, Benn noted, include promoting and enforcing fire safety regulations, conducting public awareness campaigns, regular inspections and maintenance of fire safety equipment, and monitoring trends in ambulance calls and fire safety certificates.
In terms of serious crime, various categories, including robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, rape incidents, and robbery using firearms, showed a decline. However, the number of murder cases increased by 21.4%, primarily due to disorderly behaviour and domestic-related incidents.
To address the rise in murder cases, Benn highlighted the importance of community-based interventions, domestic violence prevention, and strengthening resources for intervention. Despite this increase, efforts to combat crime and improve public safety in Guyana have shown positive trends, he noted.
In addition to the soon-to-be constructed new Guyana Police Force (GPF) Brickdam Head-quarters, several police stations were constructed in different regions of Guyana, catering to the specific needs of communities, and addressing local law enforcement requirements. Command centres equipped with advanced technological capabilities have also been established to enable real-time monitoring and management of security within a region, aiding in the detection and prevention of crimes.
Recidivism
In the prison sector, the recidivism rate saw a slight decrease of 2.6% in 2023 compared to 2022. This was attributed to improved rehabilitation programmes and better support systems for inmates upon release. Initiatives such as the Fresh Start Programme provides vocational training in various fields, including cosmetology, tailoring, and carpentry, allowing inmates to learn skills that can help them start their own businesses after their release.
Additionally, the “Grow More Campaign” which focuses on expanding agricultural activities in correctional institutions, prepares inmates with skills that can improve their personal productivity and contribute to their reintegration into society. The Minister hinted that strategies are being developed in collaboration with specialist agencies to expand these initiatives and increase yields.
Nonetheless, the stats show that while efforts at rehabilitation are well underway, the number of inmates has increased over the past three years, with a higher intake in 2023 compared to previous years. The number of prison deaths has also risen.
According to the statistics, the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) made significant progress in 2023, implementing strategies to interdict and seize illegal narcotics, conducting investigations, and collaborating with international agencies. CANU also enforced laws and regulations related to drugs and protected citizens from the harmful effects of drug abuse.
With a total budget of $737,959,000, CANU utilized 98.54% of its budgetary allocation to support drug interdiction activities. While total narcotic seizures fluctuated over four years, arrests, convictions, and cases all saw an increase. CANU’s Demand Reduction strategies included drug awareness sessions, educational resources such as pamphlets and flyers, and collaboration with law enforcement agencies from various nations.
He said that the General Register Office (GRO) played a vital role in improving citizen access to services in 2023. The GRO has focused on digitizing records, with 99% of records scanned and computerized, enabling faster and more accessible document retrieval for citizens.
A large number of records, including 161,937 birth registrations, 46,760 death registrations, 20,131 marriage registrations, and 42 adoptions were also processed under the GRO. Further, improvements in registration processing time saw an average of 14 days taken to complete a registration process.
