Nothing will deter this newspaper

Jun 08, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Crime in Guyana is big business. Criminals have invested heavily in technology and weaponry and have established very lucrative networks in the trafficking of drugs and guns. Some crimes are politically motivated, orchestrated by those who resent criticism and will go to any lengths to silence their opponents.

The grenade attack on the publisher of this newspaper is a heinous crime. It has all the markings of persons whose goal it is to suppress freedom of the press. What the perpetrators fail to understand that nothing of this nature will deter the publisher and by extension, this newspaper. The publisher has time and again proven his toughness under relentless fire, and will do any and everything to keep the public duly informed of wrongdoing by anyone – in or out of the government – that affects this nation.
Kudos to the police for their swift action, and there is the hope that the story will unfold for the country to learn the truth. The barbarians should know that they can run but cannot hide.
People are indeed living in fear of being robbed or murdered; and many believe that their only option is to have a gun to defend themselves. Over the years, Kaieteur News has been facing numerous death threats, not from the public, but from those who the paper had exposed for their corrupt practices and theft of the state resources. The Publisher, Editor-in-Chief and the staff have played a major role in getting rid of many of the elements that were responsible for the steady decline in the country’s economy as well as its image.
We reiterate that after a year in office, the current government has not found it possible to reinstate the newspaper’s firearm licences which were maliciously revoked by the Jagdeo administration.
Today, the police force is far more effective in solving crimes than in the past. And while there seems to be hardly any political interference by the government, the police and intelligence agencies are screaming out for technological advancement in their efforts to make a serious dent in crime. The government has to stop playing games; people’s lives are at stake.
For example it was pitiable to watch the brave bomb expert remove the grenade with his naked hands. He had no protective outfit, not even a pair of gloves or an explosion proof box to store the device. It is shameful that the bomb squad is not even equipped with the most basic protection, which begs the question: How prepared is the country to deal with terrorism? The onus is on the Minister of Public Security to properly equip the force.
Further, the current economic climate is ripe for recruitment of young criminals and terrorists. The high unemployment among youths, real or perceived, has created disenchantment and hopelessness, with survival and desperation driving them to become criminals. Many are gullible and would do anything in an effort to escape poverty, or simply to put food on the table.
It is disturbing that when it comes to matters concerning the well-being of the people, politics always keeps getting in the way. It seems that the ruling elite are incapable to adequately put measures in place to deal with critical issues affecting the masses. The government must understand that a war on crime is essentially turning into a war on the people. It must urgently inculcate a new thinking in dealing with the people, especially misguided youths. The nation’s survival depends on the collective responsibility of all to build the country and provide a better life for all. Time to declare war on the corrupt and greedy; those among us who have pilfered or are continuing to pilfer the country’s resources, and are destroying the hopes and aspirations of the people.

1 thoughts on “Nothing will deter this newspaper”

RLSG June 8, 2016 at 8:21 am

I fully support the gist of this article. It does seem as if the current administration is inept to deal with the increase in crime. It is hard to imagine that after spending all that money on the jubilee celebrations they cannot see fit to purchase a bomb protection outfit for the bomb expert .. really ? It is shameful and a disgrace when one comes to think of it especially when the major players in this administration have a security forces background. And one cannot forget that their first act was to give themselves a big fat raise after getting into office. It speaks volumes about where their interest lies .. obviously in their own self-interest and not the interest of the people. Let us hope that their first year in office is NOT demonstrative of what their next four years in office will look like.