Pres Ali assures GCCI of efforts to modernise policing system amid concerns

– says Caricom making efforts to address gun control

In light of recent concerns raised by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), of the significant level of crime in the country, President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday assured of efforts to continue enhancing Guyana’s security system while stating that recent statistics showed a decline in serious crimes.
In July, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) revealed that there was a 12.6 per cent decrease in serious crimes in Guyana for 2023, so far, with the exception of murder, which increased by 37 per cent.
In response, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI) shared their views that the GPF official crime statistics do not reflect the reality of the prevailing circumstances.
“Rather, and alarmingly so, the GCCI views the decline in official statistics as demonstrative of a loss in confidence in the GPF and reflective of an underreporting of criminal perpetration,” the GCCI statement read.
As such, the GCCI called on the Guyana Police Force to “adjust its laxed posture on crime and, echoes the sentiments recently expressed by the Home Affairs Minister, to clamp down on the lawless malaise existing in daily life,” the statement continued, adding that this level of crime can have damaging impacts on the country’s economic development.
However, speaking to reporters at an event on Thursday, President Ali explained that serious crimes have, in fact, decreased, with the murder rates only increasing due to the tragic fire at the Mahdia Secondary School’s female dormitory in May.
“We can’t work on perception. The statistics, based on all the reports, show that crime is on the decline in Guyana. If you take [the Mahdia fire] out, you will see a significant decline based on statistics, facts, and reports,” Ali said.
He further stated that the Government is working to build the country’s security system from the bottom up, and is making strides to modernise the policing system.
As such, the Police Force is being equipped with vehicles and non-lethal weapons to advance their performance.
In 2021, the National Assembly passed a Bill allowing the GPF to use less lethal weapons during instances that require the use of force, including nightsticks, batons, pepper spray, tear gas, tasers, stun guns, rubber-coated bullets, and water cannons.
“We have to then increase our manpower. We are building out new outposts all across the country to support community policing. We’re involving the community more in the security infrastructure of the country,” Ali said.
“The modern way to build a comprehensive, holistic, and functional security architecture is to build it from the bottom up where the communities and people are involved in the strategy of securing themselves, their communities, and the country,” Ali said.

Gun control
Meanwhile, the President also noted that work is being done at the regional level to better address gun control.
Notably, according to GPF’s recent report, 68 firearms had been seized in the country for this year thus far, representing a 13.3 per cent increase in overall confiscation of such weapons.
“Here in Guyana, one crime is too much for us. We have made it clear [in] the Caribbean Community (Caricom) that we have to address the guns in the Region and go to the source of the problem as to where the guns are coming from. And that is why we’re engaging the US and many other stakeholders as important strategic partners,” Ali said.
He added that the US has been working extensively with Guyana on the issue of national security and drug trafficking, in particular.