Turning a blind eye to violators of the curfew

Dear Editor,
The coronavirus crisis is getting worse on a daily basis, and Government has introduced a curfew from 6pm to 6am in an effort to turn the tide. I am quite certain that the Government expects the Police Force to be the enforcer of this curfew.
Sadly, the Police in Rose Hall Town, on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice, have been turning a blind eye to a situation in which the curfew is being violated. A popular liquor and gambling shop located less than 200 yards from the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost breaks the curfew every day in full views of the lawmen.
Dozens of gamblers lock themselves in the shop every day to consume alcohol, play dominoes competitions, play pool, and indulge in their favourite pastime of gambling on cricket, horse-racing etc.
Dozens of vehicles from all over Berbice – including those of law enforcement officers – are parked on the roadway in front of this venue late into the night. It is common knowledge that the owners of the gambling shop have a close relationship with some senior Police officers, who intervene on their behalf when the Outpost tries to implement the Government curfew.
What was very shocking was that when the Police were about to raid another venue in Rose Hall Town, all vehicles parked in front of this particular shop suddenly disappeared for a while, but returned after that other raid had been completed.
My friend, who owns the raided venue, has said he was informed that the other party had been informed of the impending raid by friends in the Police Force, and told to be away from his venue during that time. A visit to the venue in question found his ‘patrons’ still drinking and gambling two hours after the curfew time had come into effect, and at least a dozen cars were parked on the road in full view of the Police.
It is my sincere hope that the high command of the Guyana Police Force would look into this sickening situation with a view to correcting it. With dozens of persons in a huddle gambling in an enclosed shop, the COVID-19 pandemic can be exacerbated as people ignore the measures stipulated to mitigate the spread of this highly contagious disease, such as wearing a mask and washing hands frequently.
The Police Commissioner and the Home Affair Minister should also look into the conduct of some senior officials in Berbice; they are fully aware of the situation, but are turning a blind eye to it.

Sincerely,
Resident of
Rose Hall Town