U.S Govt. warns citizens to reconsider travelling to oil-rich Guyana

Jul 20, 2023 News

…says violent crimes including murder and armed robberies common

…tells all their citizens to be extra careful when walking and driving at nights in the city

Kaieteur News – The United States of America on Monday warned its citizens to reconsider travelling to Guyana, a country rich in oil resources due to rampant crime and the country’s lack of resources to suppress same.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Guyana is dubbed the fastest growing economy in the world, but its crime rate is high. A travel advisory issued by the US Department of State’s- Bureau of Consular Affairs placed the country in the level three category, that is just one level away from a “Do not Travel” warning. “Violent Crime, including murder and armed robbery, is very common, especially at nights”, the US State Department said.

Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Geeta Chandan-Edmond

The US Government also pointed out that Guyana Police Force lacks the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents and warned its citizens desirous of visiting the country to be extra vigilant when visiting banks and ATMs. “Avoid walking or driving at night, do not physically resist any robbery attempt, do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewellery”, the US State Department warned.

Screengrab from a man being choke and robbed in Guyana

The travel warning was published just days after the Guyana’s Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken told his ranks at Police Force’s 184th Anniversary Awards ceremony that that they should give themselves a round of applause for reducing serious crimes in the country. While boasting that the reduction is because of the force’s 2022/2023 strategic plan, Hicken said, “…we have some successes compared to previous years some of those successes for 2022 to date include but not limited to an overall reduction in serious crimes by 12.6 percent. I think you deserve a round of applause for that.”

Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken

Hicken added: “with the exception murder that would have increased by 37 percent by 85 as against 62 for the same period comparatively, all other categories of serious crimes are at a negative or minus give yourself a round of applause for that”.

US State Department

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Geeta Chandan-Edmond in a statement on Wednesday in response to the travel advisory, accused the Police Force of being highly politicised and without a crime plan. “… I wish to lament the dangerous crime situation which presently engulfs the society. There is nothing being done at the policy level that can induce confidence among the people”, she said, while adding that “oil and gas investors have resorted to issuing internal security memos that advise their employees on the dangerous security situation in the country. “Coupled with this, the United States had no choice but to issue a general advisory to US citizens on the crime situation in Guyana”, Chandan-Edmond stated while pointing out that Guyana “cannot boast of any prosperity or development if it is all premised on the lack of security”.

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Acting Commissioner of Police, Antony Blinken, Clifton Hicken, Guyana, United States Secretary of State

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