Security forces need to go back to drawing board to tackle upsurge in crime - FITUG

Security forces need to go back to drawing board to tackle upsurge in crime – FITUG

Jul 16, 2014 News

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is calling on those responsible for the nation’s security to urgently go back to the drawing board to consider other supplemental but more effective measures to tackle anew, the apparent upsurge in criminal activity.
In a statement issued yesterday, FITUG lamented the crime upsurge and is advocating community security as part of the national strategy to deal with it.
“No amount of fancy figures from the police could gloss over the fact that crime is on the increase; in fact the last figures released by the police show that there was a 12 percent increase in the number of murders over the same period last year, while robbery under arms skyrocketed by 27 percent for the same time span.”
According to FITUG, which has a membership of some 30,000 workers, criminal activities are reported literally on a daily basis of recent and are manifested in violence accompanying burglaries, home invasions, robberies against large and small businesses, and wounding with intent to maim and disfigure, among other crimes.
Fatal occurrences have also been reported from hinterland locations to coastal communities.
“We get the strong impression that organized criminal gangs are operating with some level of sophistication, as well as utilizing surveillance of residences, businesses, habits of home-owners and employers before they carry out their criminal schemes. Several communities have grown fearful and feel threatened. Needless to point out such an environment does not augur well for the wellbeing of our people, their communities and society as a whole,” FITUG stated.
FITUG’s concerns come in the wake of last week’s fatal shooting of a young Lusignan cosmetologist, and Monday’s fatal shooting of 21-year-old Kevin Fields who was reportedly a member of a feared Agricola gang, after a botched robbery on a businessman.
The police had boasted that they had broken up several gangs, including the infamous ‘hot skull’ gang of Albouystown. They have also effectively shut down the operations of a West Demerara/Parika gang, with most of the members behind bars on murder and armed robbery charges.
The police have also closed down the operations of another criminal outfit that they suspect was responsible for a series of robberies in Corentyne, Berbice.
But despite the police success with regards to gangs, residents of Agricola have expressed fear of young criminal elements, whom they say have formed themselves into a gang that is terrorizing those who are critical of their activities. From all indications the gang members were open in their activities, despite the constant police patrols in the community.
As a matter of fact, slain gang member Kevin Fields had posted some incriminating photographs on his Facebook page.
Police in a statement yesterday said that it has been observed that the Facebook Page of Kevin Fields of Agricola has several items including a firearm licence.
“The Guyana Police Force is informing the general public that no approval for a firearm licence was ever granted to Kevin Fields by the Police Force,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, FITUG said that the current trend of criminal activities needs to be arrested. The body said that it recognizes that this is a demanding task, but it is not beyond the local security agencies which “we understand, are better equipped and trained today.”
The umbrella trade union body is urging continued and sustained support for the police and other security-oriented forces.
FITUG feels, however, that these Forces need to strengthen their co-operation and increase their involvement within communities.
“Quite possibly, the Community Police structure can do more, in the form of patrols by night and day under the watch and guidance of the Guyana Police Force. Consider better illumination in areas; strengthen the criminal intelligence unit and let it be engaged in greater groundwork; forge links of support with the several private security bodies around; raise the level of known and tested methods of crime fighting.”
“We all have a stake in the containment and elimination of crime. We recognize crime-fighting methods may need to be supplemented by social and economic thrusts too. And, in the face of such challenges to our people’s security, we expect also a national response,” FITUG stated.

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