The high crime rate continues to be a tremendous source of bother to Guyanese, locally and overseas, and also to visitors. This drives and sustains fears in the minds of all with a consumption of focus on how to be safe. Based on the constant evolution of how crimes are daily executed, there appears little option for safety. Fortified premises have been constantly breached, resulting in serious injuries and loss of life thereby forcing the “nothing I can do” reality into the mindset of the populace.
There are various factors which make an already bad situation worse. Two of these factors are the exponential increase of these criminal activities and the violent resort to what some may want to classify as petty crimes. In the end, a crime is a crime and perpetrators must be made to feel the full brunt of the law prescribed for levels of severity. A worrying example is reflected in reports received about a young lad who was robbed by two armed men of a box of food he just bought. Had the young man resisted, he could have been injured, or worse, his life snuffed out.
This type of crime adds a different dimension; that of desperation which can further and swiftly snowball the current terrible situation. There have been reports of similar crimes, not necessarily confined to areas where unemployment has been forced to increase. Three women were recently robbed following an invasion of their city home by armed gunmen. Among the items stolen was a pair of footwear.
One can argue that some footwear are extremely expensive, however, such actions by armed marauders emphasise this growing desperation. It could mean that all are now more at risk through items not readily considered as of interest to bandits. This exacerbates the prevailing fear in the minds of the citizenry and will have devastating effects on local and national economies due to the natural propensity to curtail movements and activities in these circumstances.
Obviously, the desperation is not only in the minds of the criminals, but also in the minds of the ordinary people. They are desperate for the situation to be arrested! They are desperate for the authorities to act in the interest of their safety. Droves of law enforcement agents recently waited and escorted to the Police Station the unarmed People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Bishop Juan Edghill. All are hoping for the same efficiency and meticulous planning in combating the escalating crime wave.
While that scenario played out, somewhere someone was being robbed or a car probably hijacked. The swift response then and into the chambers of Parliament the day before is what all have been yearning for. Too often, the ordinary folks are being fed by the Police the diet of the unavailability of ranks or vehicles to respond to a crime in progress. During the 2015 election campaign, Guyanese may have been fed the fantasy of expertise and willpower that the coalition has security as a priority and will arrest the crime situation if voted into office.
Many had no reason to doubt especially when former law enforcement heads were proudly boasted of and showcased in the line-up headed by a retired Brigadier. With that kind of power resources, criminals must have at that time shudder to think of their fate. As the old adage wisely advises, it was too good to be true.
The reality is that crime ballooned after the coalition took the reins of power as exemplified by the current ongoing situation. It would, therefore, not be unfair to posit that Guyanese were given fake related promises.
None is under the illusion that crime will disappear regardless of who holds the seat of power. However, in this instance, the coalition sold the nation a silver bullet on crime, which ironically is flourishing despite two and a half years into their rule. During that time, criminals were pardoned much to the dissatisfaction of Guyanese further broadsiding their afflicted mindsets. As feared, afterwards a pardoned few were found to be involved in heinous crimes.
What is fast becoming detestable is the apparent trivialising of the situation. There is reported bureaucracy when following up and a seeming resort for solace through questionable crime statistics that appeared to be strategically released claiming a high percentage in crime reduction. Even if true, it brings no comfort to the bleeding victims and the potential others. It also makes it difficult not to question motives on the recent shuffling of part of the hierarchy of the Police Force.
Reportedly, the substantive Commissioner of Police was instructed to remain at home for concerns it would not be in the best interest of ‘Christmas security arrangements’. Maybe therein lies the problem; it’s not about Christmas and if what’s happening currently is a gauge, then it is a catalyst that will evaporate any hope for relief.
