Crime not linked to poverty

Jan 28, 2014 Editorial

The prevalence with which youths are becoming involved in the commission of criminal acts is symptomatic of a very real deep-seated problem in Guyana. Daily media reports point to a blurring of lines between those traditionally profiled as offenders and an unanticipated emergent class.
In recent years crimes including murder, robbery and assault have been allegedly committed by the offspring of persons in the magistracy, government, and police force just to mention a few. According to the latest reports authorities are at a loss to understand why these particular perpetrators run afoul of the law.
The implication seems to be that crimes are only expected to be committed by those from among the underclasses in terms of poverty and moral instability. Further, no serious effort is being made to address the security concerns of the people who are so far away from positions of influence that their cries are hardly ever heard. One has to wonder if there is some implied acceptance that crimes are driven by poverty.
It has been said before and bears repeating that everyone who has the ability and opportunity to change systems for the better should do so because no one knows when s/he will be on the wrong end of a dysfunctional system. The reported experiences of policewoman Rhonda Hawker is a case in point.
It is widely believed that she is being punished for raising questions about the police shooting death of her son Delon Hawker at Mahaicony last year. Allegations of assault made against the son of a high official are not investigated with the haste similar to one made against a leading activist against trafficking in persons.
The botched investigations into the murder of a taxi driver resulted in three young men being freed in the high court. One was the son of a former magistrate.
In addressing the Colwyn Harding matter it is noted that President Ramotar stated that he supports the need for an independent inquiry but he went further in questioning the motives of people who are asking for the same thing. By raising the issue of the time taken before the allegations were made public, the question is what subliminal message is His Excellency sending?
The murder of Trevor Rose by an assailant who emerged from a heavily tinted vehicle is another reason for the police to enforce the laws in that regard. It would be interesting to learn by what criteria are those privileged persons granted a ministerial waiver if any. The way things are going in this country it should come as no surprise that a reputed hit man who was implicated in at least two murders, and one robbery under arms is regularly seen driving around in a heavily tinted vehicle. If a check is made on who drive tinted vehicles apart from senior government functionaries and the nouveau riche, it will be easily seen that police ranks make up the majority of owners/drivers.
The target special squad was disbanded long after incessant complaints about the unprofessional behavior of its ranks. But is that any guarantee that there are no murder or robbery squads operating without official sanction within the force? Another observation to be made is the room for abuse which the practical application of the intelligence-led policing concept could suffer. Firstly, when last has a force crime fighting plan come out of the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department? Secondly, how effective is the intelligence gathering and data mining focus of the criminal intelligence unit?
As a matter of priority citizens need to know that the ranks assigned to those duties are properly supervised and not left to their own devices. Lastly, and by no means of least importance, people need to know that the performance of these various units are audited for effectiveness and are being done in an efficient manner.
Finally, the newly formed SWAT unit must be able to withstand scrutiny from the perspectives of its members’ physical and psychological fitness for their role. It is no use just finding numbers to fulfill some undefined criteria and exposing the populace to the potential for a higher level of professional misconduct.

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Crime not linked to poverty

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