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We are well on our way to becoming a police state

Aug 30, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Please permit me to respond to a letter penned by the Honourable Mayor of Georgetown when he asked if we as a nation live in a police state. Based on my experience, I would have to posit that if we have not reached to a complete police state we are well on our way.
I have seen many instances where ranks of the Guyana Police Force have tried to do their jobs (however rare that may be), and have been hampered by an order from a senior officer informing them to let a potential perpetrator off the hook. This happens because of a combination of things.
First, the level of corruption is so high that very few people have respect for the Guyana Police Force, especially since they know that most of them can be bought. Then, there is always the issue of an individual knowing someone in authority who has the connections to rid them of prosecution for almost any offence.
More so, what makes matters worse is if the particular individual is one in some sort of power like a minister of the government or a wealthy businessperson. Things have gotten so bad that we see heavily-tinted vehicles traversing our roadways when we know that dark tint is illegal. However, when we investigate we learn that these vehicles are owned by these powerful members of society or even ranks of the Guyana Police Force.
Things have become so bad that society rarely seeks help from the police because they know most times the result will be dismal. Especially since officers are conducting personal investigations and accidently shooting teens who they thought were suspects of a crime.
My solution? Simple. Eliminate the bad apples and save the bunch. Those officers that are even suspected of such despicable acts should be removed from the force immediately and subsequently charged if evidence is available. Sadly, it is a utopian idea, because we have to rely on the work of the police force to carry out such justice. Restoration of the office of the Ombudsman and complete revamping of the Police Complaints Authority are steps in the right direction, but that too is utopian, since corruption is also at the government level. Pray for Guyana.
Patrice S. Wishart

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