In light of the recent increase in criminal activities, the A partnership for National Unity (APNU) has called on the security forces to up its game and enhance crime fighting strategies so as to provide a safe and secure environment for Guyanese.
This call was made last Friday by APNU parliamentarian and former Police Commissioner Winston Felix, who recommended that the security forces develop an intelligence gathering system which will assist them in tackling criminal activities.
“The nature of these crimes today suggests that these crimes are well planned and executed and so traditional methods of responding are to be enhanced and that is why I’m advocating intelligence gathering, upon which sensible counter-policing operations can be mounted,” he stated.
The former police commissioner highlighted the increase usage of firearms in criminal activities, noting that when such a spree arises, the police have a standard procedure which they ought to follow.
He said that they have to identify the areas where crime is prevalent and increase patrol in those areas.
Speaking on the issue of firearms, Felix said some licence holders, despite being told of the responsibilities and code of conduct, do not adhere and use their weapons in a willy nilly manner.
He cited the Vive La Force, West Bank Demerara incident where a 14-year-old boy was shot from across the Demerara River.
It is suspected that persons were practicing over the East Bank with high-powered weapons and the police had questioned a businessman; however, nothing came out of the matter.
The APNU parliamentarian continued that another factor that leads to such a high use of illegal firearms is the absence of stringent police presence at the borders.
“We have an unpoliced border,” he said while pointing out that people travel through the North West District and rivers without any hindrance by the police and with that freedom comes the opportunity to smuggle items such as firearms, citing the arms cache that was found in Lethem late last year.
Felix noted that the time is now for interior policing to be supported by the use of aircraft, which he said can be used to transport officers to strategic locations to carry out regular searches.
