How long can we continue without a comprehensive crime fighting strategy?

Jun 18, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
The prison breakout on Saturday June 11, 2011 is another unfortunate event, which can only remind us of the grave crime and security threats Guyana continues to face, for lack of a comprehensive crime and security plan.
The lack of this critical blueprint has been consistently defended and pushed on the back burner by the PPP/C administration. Their thinking seems to be that there is no need for such a plan, even as criminals continue to wage war on innocent families, almost daily.
With all the mayhem which stemmed from the 2002 Mash Day jailbreak, one would have thought that the Guyana government would have recognized the urgent need to develop and implement a robust strategy to enhance the security sector. Instead, we see the government’s deliberate attempt to shrug off the efforts of those interested in devising a plan to protect citizens.
Guyanese continue to ask why the PPP/C government reneged on the billion-dollar security sector reform program, offered by the British Government – a plan which would have encompassed every facet of the security sector and included reform of the police force as well as the prison services.
But the administration, in its usual shortsighted and arrogant fashion, refused to follow through on this ambitious and realistic arrangement, because they were not prepared to have the parliament, and other stakeholders act as an oversight body, as recommended by the British government.
The reason given by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Luncheon, that the British wanted to run the Guyana government’s show, cannot be a sound reason to refuse to reform the local security sector. One may glean from their action that the safety of citizens might not be a huge priority for the PPP/C government. Generally, the government’s excuse provides an indication of how insensitive it has been.
The action of the administration suggests to Guyanese that political posturing and an attitude of “bossism” is more important to the PPP/C than addressing their crime and security concerns. Nine years after the infamous Camp Street jailbreak, we witness yet another jailbreak, which leaves the people exposed to four more dangerous criminals. Less than two weeks ago, a prison officer escorted a Surinamese national, who was incarcerated at the said New Amsterdam Prison, to Suriname, the duo left the shores of Guyana without any hindrance, and while the officer is back in Guyana, the return of the escapee is in doubt, because Guyana does not have an extradition treaty with Suriname.
With the spate of criminal violence and attacks in Guyana, the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, tells Guyana that the crime and security situation is under control. How is this so when prisoners can just walk out of the prisons? If the Minister responsible for the security of the people can accept this dangerous state of affairs as normal, Guyanese must ask themselves if Donald Ramotar and the PPP/C can truly protect the citizens of this country.
I hear that an investigation is launched into the recent jailbreak; I am hoping that those conducting this investigation will look at this crime in a holistic manner, placing specific focus on the impact of a comprehensive security strategy.
While individual prison officers will be implicated in this serious security breach, I believe that the blame for this breakout must be placed squarely at the feet of the authorities, the Guyana government. For too long the people have been left exposed to the unfortunate realities of an unprepared and ailing security sector. The ranks who are employed to protect us seem to be operating through guesswork, or by utilizing outmoded security techniques. Therefore, they must not be totally blamed for the state of affairs, security wise, in the country. The problem is they are saddled with the burden of attempting to fight crime with the absence of that critical blueprint or plan. I believe that these officers must be commended for trying to carry on even though they are doing so without that important supporting base document, or plan.
The issue of a lack of a comprehensive crime fighting strategy is a legitimate one that needs urgent attention. And just for those who are thinking otherwise, it is also a relevant political one.
Lurlene Nestor

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