No significant decrease in murders since crime wave

Jan 06, 2020 News

· 1,128 murders recorded within the last nine years; 46 less than crime wave period
· Murder rate was at all time high in 2003 with 206 cases
· For 17 consecutive years since 2002, murder rate surpassed 100

The bloody crime wave period rocked Guyana between 2002 and 2009. It was a period of murders, kidnapping and carjacking. Many might assume that with this period behind us, there would be a significant decrease in murders.

Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, Eve Leary

But this has not been the case, according to statistics from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters.
The data which was published by the Bureau of Statistics shows the state of affairs as it relates to serious crimes from 1990-2018, a period of 28 years.
These include reported cases of murder, manslaughter, wounding with intent, burglary and break-in, larceny, arson and rape.
According to the data, the country recorded 1,174 murders during the crime wave. In 2003, the murder rate was at an all-time high at 206 reported cases followed by 192 cases recorded in 2001. There were 142 murders recorded in 2002; 131 in 2004; 142 in 2005; 163 in 2006; 115 in 2007; 158 in 2008 and 117 in 2009 when the crime wave abated.

The table shows the number of murders recorded in Guyana between 1990 and 2018. The area highlighted in red shows the murder rate during the crime wave period.

But since then there has not been any major decrease in murders. Between 2010 and 2018, 1,128 murders were recorded. This is only 46 less than what was recorded during the crime wave. Apart from this, 140 murders were recorded in 2010; 130 in 2011; 139 in 2012; 155 in 2013; 147 in 2014; 149 in 2015; 142 in 2016; and 115 in 2017. For 17 consecutive years since 2002, the country’s murder rate toppled over a hundred with the lowest number recorded in 2018 with 111 cases.
Furthermore, the country recorded its lowest murder rate in 2000, with 74 reported cases, followed by 79 in the following year.
As it relates to the 1990’s, 90 murders were recorded for 1990; 105 in 1992;117 in 1993; 108 in 1994; 109 in 1995; 88 in 1996; 87 in 1997; 113 in 1998 and 91 in 1999. Between 1990 and 2018, the country recorded 3,655 murders.
Nevertheless, President David Granger, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces was previously reported as saying there were 1,431 murders during the crime wave period. The government continues to blast the opposition associating it with phantom squads that are being accused of carrying out extra judicial killings. The coalition government has since promised a full blown investigation into the killings which has been welcomed by the opposition.
The February 23, 2002 Camp Street Prison jailbreak had triggered an unprecedented crime wave.
Those slain included former Minister of Agriculture, Satyadeow ‘Sash’ Sawh.
Former US diplomat Stephen Lesniak was kidnapped by gunmen in 2003 but was later released.
Other high profile killings include the death of Leon Fraser, Head of the Police Force’s Target Special Squad on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway; Vibert Inniss, Deputy Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit in Buxton.
There was also the attempted assassination of Denis Hanomansingh, the Director of Public Prosecution in Kitty. There were also massacres in Agricola, Bagotstown-Eccles, Bartica, Bourda, Campbellville, Kitty, Lamaha Gardens, Lindo Creek, Lusignan and elsewhere.
Recently, Commissioner of Police Leslie James debunked reports of there being an upsurge in crime despite there being almost daily reports of robberies and other serious crimes.
In fact, the Top Cop attributed this perception to sensational media reports. In this regard, James made it clear that he wished to advise that there is no upsurge in crime.