Region 1 is no hiding place – commander warns criminals

…25% crime reduction recorded

Police Senior Superintendent Krishnadat Ramana, Commander of Regional Division One (Barima-Waini), has issued a statement directed at criminal elements who are attempting to evade law enforcement by seeking refuge in the country’s north-westernmost region.
“Don’t come here!” he warned.
In a recent interview with one of the Public Relations officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Stan Gouveia, Ramana detailed the state of affairs in the region, and made it clear that any individual who commits crimes in other parts of the country and thinks they can lie low in Region One would find themselves swiftly apprehended.
“We’ve seen persons committing crime in Georgetown. Only recently, we caught one for a murder that occurred some time ago in Sophia. He escaped from the police there, and he was right here in Kaituma,” the Commander revealed. “We observed him because we have a database with the criminal elements who are wanted, and those photographs are circulated to our partners.”
According to Ramana, the division’s success in tracking such individuals stems from robust partnerships, not only with other police divisions, but also with residents themselves.
“Because of the relationship that we have with members of the public, they also look out for the police. They don’t want someone who is committing a crime in another division to come to their peaceful region and cause chaos,” he said. “So, they look out for the police, and of course, we are there to serve and protect them.”
Ramana emphasized that the geography and tight-knit nature of the region make it difficult for outsiders to blend in. “It’s a small division with approximately 31,000 people…some villages we have maybe 400-500, some 600, and everybody is acquainted with each other. So, to come and settle here, it’s not easy. They would point you out in quick time,” he asserted.
“It’s not a good division if you want to hide out. Don’t come here, because we’re going to catch you and you’re going to be charged,” he warned
The Commander’s stern message came as he reported a 25% drop in crime across the region, compared to what had obtained in the previous year. He has attributed this milestone achievement to effective policing strategies, strong community partnerships, and visible law enforcement presence.
“This division has been peaceful, and it’s because of our police initiative – what we are doing in our social crime prevention strategies and our operational aspect,” Ramana said. “We’ve aligned ourselves with the strategic plan of the Guyana Police Force, and that is very effective.”
Ramana disclosed that the division, in aiming to build trust with residents, understand their concerns, and ensure consistent police visibility in both commercial and remote areas, has completed more than 700 community outreaches last year. That approach, he said, has directly contributed to both crime deterrence and a 50% reduction in traffic accidents.
“Police visibility has to be there 100%, and we’ve been doing that in this division,” Ramana stated. “We don’t just focus on entertainment and commercial areas, we notice citizens in remote areas too, and we ensure that they feel some sort of security coming from the police.”
With the division being located near the border with Venezuela, Ramana also highlighted the role of over 400 Community Policing Group (CPG) members in riverine communities, who help monitor border activities and flag any suspicious movement.
Despite the challenges of policing a vast, forested, and often hard-to-reach terrain, the Commander has praised the division’s resource readiness, saying every police station and outpost is now equipped with transportation, including boats for river patrols.
“The division is not starved for resources,” he affirmed. “We even have in-house mechanics in each subdivision to ensure quick repairs; so, our transportation assets are always ready.”
His closing words were a message of caution and hope. “The message to them [criminals] is: don’t commit crime; it doesn’t pay,” Ramana said. “If you need help, the police are there to help. We have jobs here, so rather than just turning to crime, come and have a good job.”
He encouraged residents to continue working with the police to maintain safety: “Once we have your full support, it makes our work easier, and it makes your livelihood safer,” he declared.