Latest update February 12th, 2025 8:40 AM
Latest News
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- Govt. issues 30-day notice to terminate CGX, Frontera Corentyne Block licence
- Netanyahu threatens to resume Israel’s war on Gaza if captives not released
- Bartica teacher remanded for allegedly raping student
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DEADLY INVASIONS
The senseless and brutal murder of Deonarine Liliah, a 61-year-old pandit and businessman, and his 28-year old-son Gopaul Liliah of Campbellville, and the shooting to death of five alleged bandits by police during a foiled robbery attempt at Pattensen, East Coast Demerara, should not surprise anyone.
These incidents should be a wake-up call for the citizens that no one is safe. And the criminals should be aware that the police are serious about crime. Amid the shock and dismay of these deadly invasions is that many believe that the next robbery or murder could be anyone. Therein lies the fear of people in an undisciplined and violent society.
In times like these, the people need the calming voice of their leaders to reassure them that the police are in control of the situation.
Equally disconcerting is that no one would be able to say that we did not see it coming because crimes are happening virtually every single day. Even as the country continues to struggle under the weight of a seemingly unending economic malaise, few are talking about the economy these days. It is not because people have given up or have chosen to wallow in self-pity, but their focus is on the criminals who appear to be bold and fearless.
For years, guns have been the main weapon of violent deaths; the criminals have evolved from knives and other sharp-edged weapons to high-powered guns as their weapon of choice to rob and murder innocent law-abiding citizens. Therefore, it boggles the mind that Governments past and present have not passed tougher laws to deal with this scourge in society.
Many can recall that during the height of the 2002-2006 crime wave, more than 450 extra-judicial murders took place. The nation is still reeling from those senseless acts.
It took the Government more than five years, albeit after an embarrassing period, to end the crime wave. At the time, it was suggested that the authorities took a don’t care attitude or worse, had a vested interest in turning a blind eye to the violence.
In the meantime, the nation bled and suffered. Many at home were terrified while those in the diaspora were afraid to return to their homeland, whether to vacation, invest in its development, or to live out the rest of their lives and reconnect with their roots.
Today, people continue to suffer. They are fearful of being robbed or murdered, despite significant efforts by the police to improve public security and make their lives safer. However, the rapid increase of illegal weapons as well as ammunition has led to unacceptable levels of violence in almost every corner of the country.
Moreover, the increasing flow of illegal guns into the country has undermined security, the prospects of development and has weakened our democracy.
Guyana has lost its innocence due to crime. The police have made progress but some of them are part of the problem. Urgent action is needed by the authority to curb the scourge on society before it gets out of hand. But even though it is the responsibility of everyone to support the police to fight crime, many are crying out for help from the authority to keep them safe.
Criminals should beware that the authorities are firm and decisive in their crime fighting strategy to reduce crime and ease the fears of the people who feel helpless in the face of the escalating crime rate and deadly invasions.
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