Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
No gun robberies reported in city for two weeks
– police Christmas security plan appears successful
The plan outlined by the Guyana Police Force’s ‘A’ Division to ensure a safe environment for city dwellers and shoppers throughout the Christmas season certainly appears to be bearing fruit.
Asst. Commissioner George Vyphuis
One month since its implementation, there appears to be a significant decline in armed robberies in the city and its environs.
In fact most of the Police Divisions are recording low crime since the beginning of the season.
“For the past two weeks, I have reported no gun robbery,” boasted ‘A’ Division Commander George Vyphuis.
Maybe it’s still early days yet and many would say “knock wood”, in the hope that the situation remains the same as it is presently. And to ensure that it is so, the police have reintroduced its Aberdeen patrols, where armed ranks on foot patrol along Sheriff, Regent and Robb Streets, as well as sections of Vlissengen Road.
Assistant Commissioner Vyphuis did point out though that there were still the odd robberies committed by bandits on Honda CG motorcycles.
“We are getting one, one…a few people on bikes doing petty robberies, but we will continue to work to keep a lid on crime,” he said.
“People should be given an opportunity to spend their hard earned money without people who do not want to work, taking it away from them,” Assistant Commissioner Vyphuis said.
But while the crime plan seems to be working, many would agree that the traffic situation still leaves much to be desired.
Although there is a slight reduction in fatal accidents, following last month’s horrific run, the congestion in the city remains a challenge for the police, so much so that through the Ministry of Works, they have had to “relax some of the traffic lights.”
Officials from the police traffic department are now convinced that the traffic lights in the city are presenting a problem with the way they are calibrated.
The relaxing of some of the traffic lights has seen a vast improvement in the free movement of traffic.
“When the traffic lights are on, one side of the traffic is stagnated even though no traffic is coming from the other sides. What we have now is self-regulation and it seems to be working,” a traffic officer told Kaieteur News.
And those who are still inclined to drink and drive will certainly have to re-think their position as the police have upped the ante on offenders.
The East Coast of Demerara is one area where this is being done in earnest. Recently this newspaper observed a relentless campaign in that district to nab offenders.
A police rank on the East Coast of Demerara administers the breathalyzer test to a driver during an intense campaign on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Commander Vyphuis lamented the attitude of some vehicle operators who clog up the busy downtown areas by their inconsiderate use of the limited parking spaces.
“People don’t want to park and walk. They park in front of the store they want to purchase from and then go to the next and do the same. It cannot work!” he declared.
He suggested that shoppers who are using their vehicles in the city, park at one convenient location and do all their shopping before returning to their vehicles.
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