“Animalistic” carjackers causing fear among business community – Dookhoo

With just three clear shopping days remaining before Christmas, Police are increasing their presence on the nation’s roads, especially at strategic points in the capital city. However, with increasing reports of carjackings, many Guyanese, especially those in the business sector, are showing signs of apprehension, which could reduce confidence in the economy.
This was according to Private Sector stakeholder, Ramesh Dookhoo, who in a recent interview with Guyana Times, condemned the ever-increasing practice,

saying many locals and even some foreigners have reason to be fearful.
“There’s a huge state of apprehension in the business community; people are afraid for their lives and that apprehension has moved to normal middle-class owners of vehicles,” he noted.
Just recently, ex-Policeman Rawle Alexander was promptly detained after he attempted to steal a Toyota Carina 212 car belonging to a Police Constable but failed when he crashed the vehicle a short distance away. In another attack, armed hijackers drove off in a motorcar carrying a sleeping child and tossed the young girl after they realised she was in the vehicle. Dookhoo deemed these acts as “animalistic”.
“The girl was thrown out of the vehicle in a very callous and ruthless manner and I am not sure what is driving and causing this level of animalistic behaviour that has suddenly taken over,” he stated.
Commenting on the increased spate of robberies, Dookhoo, a former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), observed that shoppers should be more cautions, go out in pairs and try to be more careful when returning home. Police last week disclosed that there have been 25 cases of carjackings in the past seven months.
Police A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) Commander Marlon Chapman on Tuesday announced that the Police Force has recorded some success in cracking down on such cases.
Chapman said “One of major concerns in the Division is the offence of robbery under arms where vehicles are being stolen and I am pleased to inform you that we have made some success thus far.”
He gave all assurances that the gang will be dismantled. Earlier this year, the Guyana Police Force had issued a warning, particularly to taxi drivers operating Toyota Premio and Allion motorcars, signalling that there is a plan to attack and relive the motorists of their vehicles. The Force has said a multi-agency approach is being ironed out to allow for investigators to be armed with the necessary tools and information on specifications so as to narrow in on suspects and ultimately recover the stolen cars. (Shemuel Fanfair)