Latest update January 28th, 2025 12:59 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

THE POLICE MUST BE CAREFUL WITH ITS INTERPRETATION OF STATISTICS

Nov 14, 2015 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

The assurances given by the police are not reassuring at all.  The police are in denial about the crime wave because they are looking at statistics and are attempting to make spurious associations.
For example, it is said that the seizure of cocaine is down and this has always been the trend whenever there are increased prosecutions. So have there been increases in the number of drug-related prosecutions? And how does this not relate to the decline in seizure of drugs? How is the public to know that the decline in the number of seizures is not a case of a decline in drug interdictions or is related to some other spurious factors?
The police cannot use statistics to make whimsical and fanciful associations. Another glaring example of this, is the contention that the present level of crime is below what existed in other post –election periods. There is a reason for this; the reason is that there is not at present the level of political instability as what existed in previous post- election periods, so obviously the level of crime will be less, because  less of crime in the past included incidents of political unrest, rioting, mugging and looting.
People are not going to be impressed with the figures quoted by the police and the interpretations that are being out to these numbers. The experiences of people are that crime is on the loose and there have been terrifying incidents of criminal activities.
Can you imagine that in the middle of the city bandits would invade the home of a man who along with his family were lighting their diyas? These bandits of today seem to have a penchant for gun- butting their victims, oblivious to the serious injuries, including permanent disability which can result.
Bandits also invaded the family of a former member of the Guyana Defence Force. They broke down the door and began to rip away the grill that acts as a second line of defence. The family was forced to retreat into a bedroom. Calls to the police did not help because by the time the police arrived, the bandits had taken away a large number of items from the house.
It is good to learn that the police plans to take a more proactive approach to crime. Instead of waiting to respond, the police are going to be more proactive in going after criminals. This is sorely needed because the bandits are seemingly fearless; they are operating with impunity.
Something has to be done. What should not be done is to pretend that there is not a problem and that it is becoming worse. No one expects miracles from the Guyana Police Force, but no one also wants to see the police in a mode of denial. This will only lead to further paralysis.
Police reform is needed but that will take too long. People want immediate action and this is why greater attention needs to be paid towards involving communities in police work and actually paying community police to work fulltime. Instead of doing this, the government has actually sought to deemphasize community police.  Such an approach is counterproductive.
The criminal gangs are creating fear and uncertainty in Guyana. This will not aid in the business recovery because people are not going out as much as before for fear of the criminals. The police need to get down to some serious work but that alone will not help.
Social controls need to be put in place to ensure greater discipline in our society. Without these social controls, the police will be hard pressed to reduce crime.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 24th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Tennis Association applauds historic GYD $8 billion allocation to the sports sector in the 2025 National Budget

Tennis Association applauds historic GYD $8 billion allocation to the...

Jan 28, 2025

Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) commends the Government of Guyana (GOG) for its significant increase in funding to the sports sector in the 2025 National budget. This...
Read More
Squash Association notes significance of Government Sports Budget Allocation 2025

Squash Association notes significance of...

Jan 28, 2025

Pepsi Hikers and GBTI GCC win Bounty/Antonio’s Grill Hockey Tourney

Pepsi Hikers and GBTI GCC win Bounty/Antonio’s...

Jan 28, 2025

GYMMAF president lauds Transformative G$8 billion Sports Budget

GYMMAF president lauds Transformative G$8 billion...

Jan 28, 2025

GOA says 2025 Sports Budget allocation demonstrates government commitment to sports sector

GOA says 2025 Sports Budget allocation...

Jan 28, 2025

Foreign Link Darts Club hosts successful Inaugural Tournament

Foreign Link Darts Club hosts successful...

Jan 28, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]