Although there has been a nine per cent increase in crime, so far, for this year, the Guyana Police Force has pledged its determination to “not go down without a fight” as regards its strategic approach to crime-fighting in Guyana.
This pledge was made by Police Commissioner Henry Greene last Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the Police Officers’ Annual Conference at Eve Leary. Greene stated that trends over the past few years have clearly shown an increase in murders, especially in 2010, which showed a significant rise in disorderly and domestic murders. He explained that the crime situation must be brought under control, and stated that the year 2011, though still young, has already taken a grim turn. “We have to ensure that this year we can do better. So far, up to February 28, we have not done so well. Crime is up by about nine per cent when we look at the equivalent (statistics for the corresponding period last year),” he said. He added that certain crimes, such as murder, robbery and larceny, are among the increased numbers. However, he noted that the three-day conference will seek to review why this is so, and determine what the Guyana Police Force can do to ensure that it reduces crime and criminal activities in the country. “We always fight, we do not go down; we fight. And if we go down, we go down; (but) we fight until we come back up. That is why we have lasted for so many years in this country,” Greene said.
Other areas of difficulty, Greene stated, include the amounts of unlicensed firearms coming into the country through the borders, and “assisting in (escalating) the crime rate”. The commissioner declared that, over the past few years, the numbers have been significant: in 2010, 109 illegal firearms were seized; in 2009, 82; in 2008, 128; in 2007, 115; and in 2006, the number was118. “These and other things we have to be paying attention to. We have to be looking at all that is happening in terms of gang violence and so on,” he said.
Nevertheless, despite the increase in crime – including the nine per cent, so far, for this year — Greene opined that the GPF has been significantly tackling major crimes.
The police chief then drew reference to specific instances of glory, including the execution of notorious gang leader Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins in 2008; the recapture of escaped gang leader Collin Jones in 2010 (Jones was among those implicated in the arson at the Ministry of Health); and the interception of a criminal gang in the Aranka area in Region Seven.
Apart from these examples, he embraced the opportunity to highlight achievements in other areas, including the force’s traffic strategies. He explained that, since 2007, after the introduction of radar guns and breathalyzers, there has been a marked reduction in road deaths.
Nevertheless, Greene noted that the GPF needed to do some ‘house cleaning’. He stated that all areas must be reviewed, in an aim to polish the effectiveness of the force.
