PSC commends Police for crime solving

– prison officers, firemen also get “thumbs up”

while statistics have shown that there has been a decline in the incidence of crime, Chairman of the Governance and Security Sub Committee of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Gerry Gouveia, said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) must be commended for the exceptional job it has been doing in solving crime.

He said however that there is yet more to be done, since the business community needs to stay clear of “perceptions” that have been driving fear.

Gouveia was speaking to members of the PSC on Thursday, at the opening of the Annual General Meeting (AGM). He outlined that “The Private Sector has been very engaging in terms of our security involvement. We have been meeting members of the law and order commission to deal with the issues that affect all in crime and security.

We have been meeting with the Police Commissioner and would want to say that we are pleased with the unprecedented work the Police have been doing in solving crimes,” he said.

Gouveia said statistics show that crime rates have been descending.

“The perception however, is that Police need to do more in terms of fighting crime. While the reality is that crime has reduced, the perception frightens the Private Sector because of all the high profile criminal activities,” Gouveia noted.

The Sub Committee Chairman spoke too of the non functional 911 emergency system. “It is one of the greatest challenges the Police is facing and remains “out of their hands” since the problem is something that is partially technical and partially financial. He said over the last decade, the system has been non functional and needs to be looked at immediately.

The PSC, Gouveia said, is also grateful for the contribution of firemen, especially their resilience to work on the massive fire which recently destroyed part of the Gafoors Houston Complex.

He also commended the selfless contribution of prison officers who live and work in the prisons. He said they “put their lives on the line everyday” adding that this should not go unnoticed.