Efforts underway to curb crime situation in Sophia– Divisional Commanders

Aug 19, 2014 News

Members of the Guyana Police Force say that while they are cognizant of the concerns of Sophia residents relative to reports of an increased level of crime in the area, efforts are underway to curb the situation.

Marvin Cumbermack who was shot dead for his motorcycle recently

Police ‘A’ Division Commander; Clifton Hicken said yesterday, that a fixed patrol has been placed in the area to combat the crime situation. He explained that the area is listed under two separate police divisions: ‘A’ and ‘C’.
Hicken noted that the Force is always cognizant of the concerns raised by members of the public.
“We have an active police outreach in the area, by means of our community policing groups. We are constantly working to keep the community safe. Just a few days ago ranks acting on information conducted a raid in that same area and unearthed narcotics and other illegal items.”
Police ‘C’ Division Commander Lawrence Kissoon also noted that there has been a regular police presence in Sophia.
“Speaking for the areas which fall under my jurisdiction, there has been police patrol aimed at preventing criminal activity. However, I do agree with the residents that there is still need for more police presence which can further dissuade robberies and crimes of such nature”, Kissoon said as he noted that efforts are underway for the mobilisation of additional ranks which will be deployed to Sophia.
Consequent to several attacks on persons from the community, residents of Sophia have called for 24 hour police presence in the area.
In recent weeks, armed criminals have stepped up their attacks on persons traversing the community.
Two Mondays ago, 29-year-old Guyana Water Inc. employee Marvin Cumbermack was riding through South Sophia, after dropping off a child, when a man on a bicycle shot him dead. The killer escaped on the slain man’s bike and is still at large.
On Emancipation Day, Anderson Garnett, 30, was shot in the face while fighting with a gunman who had attacked him in ‘C’ Field, Sophia. At the time, Garnett was only in possession of a few dollars and a cell phone. Nevertheless, he was convinced that the bandit intended to kill him after taking the items.
Last month, 42-year-old Alim Mohamed, of Lot 521 ‘D’ Field, Sophia was walking home when a man on a bicycle rode up,

Anderson Garnett who was shot in the face for his mobile phone.

pointed a gun at him, and demanded his valuables.
When Mohamed refused, the robber shot him in the shoulder and took his cash and a cell phone.
Also last month, Terrence Phillips, a 24 year old ‘D’ Field Sophia resident, was shot twice to the abdomen by two men on bicycles who demanded that he hand over his money.
And in January, Romario Weithers, 19, of ‘C’ Field, Sophia, was shot in the stomach by two robbers who attacked the teen and his friends.
Sophia residents have expressed that they are in constant fear for their safety. They claim that poverty and high unemployment rate are responsible for the spiraling crime rate in Sophia.
The residents say that there is need for a police operation similar to the anti-crime operation in Albouystown.
In April, the Guyana Police Force launched its community based project called ‘Impact Albouystown. Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud (Ag) had told residents that emphasis will be placed on law enforcement and gun crimes. Persaud noted that his ranks will be increasing foot patrols as well as stop and search operations which are intended to keep the community clean of illegal guns and illicit drugs. He had also said that the police will focus on domestic violence and ‘youth gangs’ which have plagued the community.
He noted that vocational skills training programmes targeting persons of all age groups, will be implemented and the recipients will be given opportunities to do ‘on the job’ attachments.