The rampant crime spree is unceasing

May 07, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Every day another murder or robbery is committed, yet the matter is not being addressed, our citizens are living in fear because they are not even safe in their own homes. The government refuses to acknowledge that crime is on the rise, simply because they cannot afford to be distracted by such trivial matters – not with general elections approaching and oil extractions soon underway.
The two major political parties, APNU+AFC and the PPP, continue to fight for control of Guyana, yet neither of them have any plans to improve the living conditions of our citizens, all they offer is more false promises. Both parties have stated that they will strive to reduce crime in our country yet they have failed, instead, their actions have only led to the increase in crime.
Though there are many causes, a major factor that influences crime is poverty, and that is what these past two governments have imposed on the people of Guyana. With no employment and no source of income, the younger generation is left with one option, and that is to steal from others. So on one hand we have a few persons struggling to make a living, only to have their hard earnings taken away at the end of the day, while on the other hand the government is encouraging it by releasing criminals back onto the streets with their annual pardons of a large number of criminals.
The pattern inevitably continues, because when these youths are convicted of minor crimes they are placed among hardcore criminals who influence them, and when they are eventually released, they mimic what they have been taught during their time incarcerated.
This cycle needs to be broken; steps need to be taken not only to reduce crime, but also to prevent it. The approach that has been taken only sends a message to criminals encouraging them to commit crimes, because they are eventually pardoned, which is making a mockery out of the Law and Justice.
Sentences need to be carried through and a system needs to be put in place so that persons convicted of minor offences are not confined to the same area as persons convicted of major felonies. Faster response to victims of violence should be a top priority, patrols in areas where criminal activity is high, re-evaluation of sentences – as persons convicted of minor crimes are given sentences such as 3 years for smoking marijuana while another may be give 5 years for armed robbery, which does not make any sense.
Focus needs to be placed on our younger generation, as they are the future. Jobs and opportunities need to be provided equally to everyone, not just supporters of a certain political party or persons of a specific race. There is no need for our younger generation to be compelled to live a life of crime.
These are just some of the ways to make Guyana a safer and more secure place for our citizens to live – where they can sleep peacefully in their own homes and walk the streets of our country without fear. All this is possible, but only under good governance.
Yours Faithfully
Fernando Alli

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