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Special police units deployed to Berbice
-as Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce demands better security
The Guyana Police Force is to dispatch a special team to Berbice, today, in a bid to stem the recent spate of violent murders and other serious crimes in the county.
The police have deployed special anti crime units to deal with the situation in Berbice.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum disclosed that the team will comprise ranks form the Force’s Anti-Crime Patrol Unit (formerly known as the Quick Reaction Group) and ranks from the Major Crimes Unit.
The team will be stationed at the Central Police Station, located at New Amsterdam.
The decision to send the special unit to the county comes just a day after the brutal killing of businesswoman Sue Di Wong, allegedly at the hands of bandits, in the family restaurant at Number 57 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
The attack occurred just four doors from the residence of Special Assistant to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Mr. Gobin Harbhajan. Mr. Harbhajan and members of a B Division Community Policing Group (CPG) were there at the time.
Late last year the police were forced to send its SWAT unit to Berbice in response to increased criminal activities there.
But as soon as the situation was normalized and the unit returned to its base in Georgetown, violent crime surfaced again.
In January, Anita Baichan, 49, was tied up in her Plantation Hope, West Coast Berbice home by bandits who then set the property alight with her inside. A few days later, bandits hacked Doodnauth Rajkumar, 81, and his wife, Dianne Chammanlall, to death in their home at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice.
Rooplall Abrahim, 24, Gocoul Madanpaul, 18, and Nazamadeen Raffick, 19, were subsequently charged in connection with the three murders.
Meanwhile, the violent criminal activities in Berbice continue to increase the fear among citizens of the ancient country and the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) has upped the demand for better security and protection from the government.
The CCCC said that the current crime situation is taking its toll on business activities and is increasing the anxiety of the entire Berbice business community.
In a statement issued yesterday, the body said that instead of focusing on business development they have had to be shifting their attention to the crime situation.
“This is the fourth press release by this chamber in the last six months dealing with crime as the major issue. The Berbice business community is sick and tired of the crime situation in the region.
“A young man’s life was snuffed out within a stone’s throw of the Rose Hall Outpost, and a businesswoman was killed Sunday night in the upper Corentyne area. Who is next? Can we develop a country like this? Where is the Public Security Minister?
“The public is being decimated by bandits and is extremely insecure. Where are you sir?” the CCCC wrote.
The Central Corentyne business group stated that the crime situation in Berbice has never been this bad in years.
“What are you doing Mr. President? Is too much to expect to be protected and be allowed to develop our businesses in a peaceful atmosphere and provide jobs in the region? As it is, no one in the present environment would even consider expanding or developing their business, resulting in more unemployment and a contraction in economic activities.”
The CCCC pointed out that business has significantly declined since the last elections, and with the uncertain future of sugar – the mainstay of the Berbice Economy – the future is looking very dim.
And to have to deal with this nerve racking crime situation is the last straw.
According to the CCCC, the crimes in Berbice are committed mostly by teenagers. The body took a jab at President David Granger for his release of young criminal offenders.
“We strongly feel that the President’s insistence of pardoning this group serving time in prison is certainly sending the wrong signals; instead we need to let any criminal, regardless of age, know that this will not be tolerated in society and they will have to pay the price.”
“A major part of our meetings instead of focusing on business development is instead spent discussing the crime situation as the environment is full of fear and apprehension, especially as the authorities are not in control and the bandits seem totally oblivious to the police.
“Berbice is demanding security and protection from its government.”
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