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The fight against crime continues

Nov 10, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I am a close observer of the present-day issues that affect all Guyanese. And I cannot help but attribute the recent successes of the security services in the fight against crime as being testimony to the Government’s commitment to rid the nation of this scourge that is threatening to engulf us.

For their part, the Government have provided the security forces with enhanced weaponry, protective equipment and gear, transportation and communication facilities. Specialised training focusing on modern anti-crime tactics and methods for police and other law enforcement personnel were conducted at various training programmes by British law enforcement agents, and were facilitated by the Government. Community policing groups were also resuscitated.

And police ranks benefited from the creation of an enhanced welfare package that includes the placement of $20 million in a fund for dependents of police ranks killed in the line of duty, and a $1 million payout immediately to each family of a police killed in action.

Coupled with this, Government had, way back in 2002, tabled four crime-fighting amendment bills, which were passed in the National Assembly. These are:

1. The Criminal Law (Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2002 that is expected to prevent acts of violence and destruction of property.

2. The Prevention of Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2002 that is expected to have Guyanese deportees monitored by the police.

3. The Racial Hostility (Amendment) Bill 2002 that increases the punishment for offences effected under the principal law.

4. The Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2002 that provides for the admissibility of documents generated by the computer as well as other documents inclusive of disc, tape, sound track, or other mechanisms.

This bill is quite appropriate at this time, as the evidentiary scope within the criminal justice system needs to keep pace with technological advances in the production of electronic documents.

More recently, we had the passing of the Interception of Communications Bill 2008 in Parliament, which was a major initiative aimed at enhancing the intelligence gathering capabilities of the security forces.

The bill was also formulated in response to the widespread use of mobile phones in the planning and commission of major crimes. The wiretapping law will effectively prohibit the interception of communication unless a warrant is issued by a judge based on an application. Intercepted communication obtained on a warrant will also be made admissible in any criminal proceedings.

Legislation was also passed that enabled the use of video evidence in court.
The renewed and reinvigorated approach by law enforcement agents, and the improvement of their intelligence gathering capabilities, which has resulted in the capture and killing of many of Guyana’s most wanted, some of whom were responsible for committing crimes that were heinous in nature and unprecedented in Guyana’s history, also did not escape my attention.

It is with this in mind that I wish to encourage all law abiding citizens to give support to all efforts aimed at combating crime; as even we, the ordinary citizens, have a role to play in such a scenario. And I also wish to congratulate all those involved in the fight against crime.

Jason Abdulla

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