Ramjattan praises public-Police relations for successful drug operations, convictions

The numerous successful operations, seizures, and arrests with convictions during the first quarter of this year are testimonies to the fact that public trust with law enforcement agencies is being repaired and rebuilt0, according to Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan.
Ramjattan said that the public has regained some confidence with law enforcement officers and as such, the successes in narcotics cases.
“There are the four factors I think – it is the paying off of a long-standing set of training, it is paying off now, a long-standing set of bettering the relationship and confidence of members of the public and the leadership of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) also helps. The efforts that have been gone into the training, the efforts that have gone into getting better community relations so that we are going to get more information from the citizens of the country and a genuine desire on the police to solve these crimes. A greater resolve of wanting the security sector to improve and I also believe too the new leadership has played a role in that regard”, the Minister stated.
More money for agencies
Minister Ramjattan stated that plans are underway to secure more monies for the various units of the GPF, along with other law enforcement agencies, since they are constantly requesting access to more finances to continue to execute their duties effectively and efficiently.
“All of them, that does not only [cater] for the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) but also for the Guyana Prison Service, it goes for the GPF, all of which have been making demands from the Ministry and myself for increased allocations, increased monies, funding for more vehicles. Some want All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) for the interior, they want more comfortable police stations, furnishing, and the list goes. We have come from a very low level of comfort when it comes to police infrastructure and the CANU’s infrastructure.”
According to the Public Security Minister, more monies for these agencies would be ideal, so that they each can continue to build on the trajectory they have set with regard to reaping more successes in their respective fields.
However, the issue of more finances being distributed or allotted to these agencies is dependent on the resources that Government has available.
“We are now opening up new buildings, one in Skeldon (Region Six), one in Lethem (Region Nine), a number of places also, so…it is going to evolve. It is not going to happen just the next day and that also depends on our resources. We are going to get far more resources with a better revenue stream as you know and that is what is going to help us,” the Minister added.
More arrests don’t mean more drugs being used
Meanwhile, Deputy Police Commissioner and Crime Chief Lyndon Alves told this publication that the collaboration between the public and the GPF has played an integral role in ranks making arrests and justice being served, not only in the Narcotics Department.
“More information is being shared with the police from members of the public and we are building trust which is critical. You know we had an issue with trust sometime back where persons give you the information and they are left out in the cold. So it is just that we are building back that bridge, and in the case of narcotics cases, persons are more comfortable now coming forward and giving information [knowing] fully well that the source will not be revealed, they are assured of confidentiality”, Alves highlighted.
The Crime Chief also noted that as the law enforcement agencies continue to clamp down the drug trade and the seizure of illicit substances, it must be clear that this does not necessarily mean that there are more drugs in Guyana.
“It does not necessarily mean there is more frequent use of drugs in Guyana. It is more information being able to come out in the open. More people are now coming forward so there are more reports but this does not necessarily mean there is an increase in drugs usage or trade in the country,” the Crime Chief added. (Kristen Macklingam)