What gives with the Guyana Police Force?

Oct 13, 2019 Letters

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Dear Editor,

For quite a while, mixed views were being expressed against members of the Guyana Police Force of the actions/performances/execution of their duties.
Coupled with that are allegations of corruption, some being associated/linked with criminals and various members being charged for criminal offenses.
One of the biggest complaints is extortion by members of the GPF whilst in uniform and executing their duties.
It’s a norm now to traverse anywhere throughout Guyana and being stopped by GPF members in general duties uniform and they request to see your documents for the vehicle.
In most cases, no traffic ranks could be seen, but those that stopped you would perform the duties of a traffic officer and find some clause on your vehicle or documents and either demand money or put you in a situation where you have to offer them money.
At the western end of the Demerara Habour Bridge, many people opined that there is the second toll booth for the Demerara Habour Bridge after you would have purchased your ticket to traverse the bridge from the Eastern end.
From all indications, many ranks seem to prefer standing on the road blocking/stopping vehicles on the roadways because that seems more lucrative.
No wonder when one makes a report or phone call to the station, they are always being told that the mobile unit is on patrol.
Whilst the success rate in minimal for the roadblocks, i.e., drugs bust, capturing wanted criminals or finding illegal weapons, etc., it would be more feasible if their efforts are directed to other places too but then again, that is not lucrative for them.
Editor, of recently, with the assistance of social media, we’ve been seeing and hearing of lots of crimes being committed and are not in the media and with the full knowledge of John Public, those responsible are trying to paint a picture that crime is down.
Based on the manner and the way it’s being committed, it should be of grave concern to everyone.
Quite alarming, schoolchildren are being robbed blatantly and physically abused. I should mention that most of these victims are East Indians.
On Tuesday around 4pm, as I was embarking into a route 32 minibus, there was a commotion and looking to see what’s it’s all about, I saw around six young males, none seems to be above 20yrs, surrounded a male, cuffing and kicking him outside of the City Constabulary.
They ran away after a few seconds of abusing the young man and then we hear that the young man was just robbed. Everyone was shocked, especially at the young man whom everyone presumed to be a schoolboy.
A while back, I penned a few letters expressing my concern with the rapid increase of ‘limers’ going on at the school and their attitudes motivating students to drop out and the usage of drugs and crimes.
No one takes heed and sadly, today’s trend is uncontrollable and still increasing. Now I am seeing what seems to be a schoolboy committing a crime.
Sadly, in such a crowded area, they all were still able to escape- an area that the City Constabulary and the GPF were supposed to be protecting, but only seems to be protecting commuters from touts.
This is the system we have in Guyana; a country being governed by an illegal Government- the head is a former ruler of the Guyana Defence Force.
In other words, with all those ex-military personnel, four years after, instead of crime dropping, they are increasing, but then again, if you are breaking the law, you cannot expect the citizens would not do the same. Consistency seems to be lacking from the GPF and the City Constabulary because of the various car parks around Stabroek have been plagued with criminals committing crimes against commuters traversing the area and except for a brief stint, where the police presence was visible a few days along with plainclothes police, it was reduced a little but sadly it is back to normal.
This is the vision of a now illegal government that legally inherits a country with problems and cannot find a solution to deal with the problems.
Traffic jams are an everyday problem around the Stabroek parks and with the installation of security cameras, the problems still exist, so it makes no sense recommending that cameras be installed where people usually get robbed and where there gathering of children to monitor their actions because that might eventually turn a white elephant too because it seems as if their vision for Guyana is limited.
Finally Editor, a few weeks ago, a young lady was robbed of over half of a million dollars and her cell phone amongst other items, including her handbag whilst going home in the evening. Immediately, she went to the station and made the report and she informed the police that she knows who committed the crime against her.
She told me that she was surprised when the police asked her if the colour of the bag is the exact colour she lost. The police picked up the individual and she was given the royal push around, although she keeps insisting that the person they held is the right person.
Surprisingly, he was released and she was told that they have to get more witnesses before he could be charged. Now, there were a few people around when she was robbed and they saw when the thieves were escaping and she told the police, but they never attempted to find/talk these individuals, according to her.
The question is being asked whether a proper investigation was conducted and whether there was a cover-up? Is the police being part of this crime by taking a drawback?
Based on what this young woman told me, she will not be getting back anything even though she knows the criminal.
How long are we going to continue hearing stories like these? From all indications, even though police are being dismissed and charged, they are still indulging in illegality. When there’s a public outcry, you will hear of some campaign that evolves to nothing after a few days.
A simple example- you cannot have any sort of tint on your vehicle without members of the GPF harassing you, but even though there’s a warning, almost all police ranks have vehicles which are heavily tinted and can be found parked in all the station compounds or outside of the station in plain view.
I’ve never heard of police being charged for a tinted vehicle, but the ordinary man is being charged, forced to remove the tint or daily being harassed pay a bribe.
Such is the vision for Guyana despite all the promises. Would you believe the new promises being made presently will become a reality when the simple ones cannot be fulfilled?

Sahadeo Bates

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