Latest update December 17th, 2024 3:32 AM
Guyana’s murder rate continues downward trend
Guyana’s murder rate continues its downward trend as the second quarter of the year commences.
Up to March 31st, there were a total of 28 murders in comparison to 33 for the similar period last year, representing a 15% decrease.
Of the 28 murders, 13 were of the disorderly type, six domestic related and one execution type, while the other eight are so far unknown.
The East Coast Division has so far accounted for the most murders this year, bringing back memories of the days when it was considered the murder district of the country.
There has been a significant decline in murders in the city and its environs, a drop from 10 to four at the end of March.
Murders in the interior have also declined, while the Essequibo Coast continues to be one of the safest places, with no murder so far.
However the police have not revealed the solving rate of these murders. It is widely known that more than half of the recorded murders have not been solved as yet.
Meanwhile, an overall decrease of eight percent in serious crimes has been recorded at the end of March this year in comparison to last year. The total number of reports of serious crimes made by March 31 this year was 968 compared to 1053 at the same period in 2011.
Offences monitored include murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.
Robbery under arms has increased by 21% unto March 2012, with 246 reports compared to 203 for the same period in 2011.
The statistics indicate an increase of 14% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms, and a 34% increase in armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
In relation to traffic, there has been a 15% reduction in road fatalities at the end of March this year in comparison to the same period last year, with 22 fatalities this year and 26 last year.
This year also continues to see significant reductions in relation to the other categories of traffic accidents – serious, minor and damage. So far pedal cyclists are the main road users affected, with seven such persons having lost their lives on the roads by March this year.
Six drivers and five pedestrians have also lost their lives up to the end of March.
Speeding is once more a major contributing factor to fatal accidents, causing 14 of the 21 at the end of the three-month period.
The Force is continuing its enforcement activities along with the use of breathalyzers and radar guns as well as traffic education and at the end of March, a total of 17,974 cases were made against errant motorists. Of this total 4,411 cases were for speeding.
It should be noted that for the month of April so far there have been two fatal accidents resulting in the death of two persons.
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