President supports re-establishment of police crack units to hunt down criminals

President Bharat Jagdeo believes that the police force should establish several hi-tech anti-crime units to aggressively tackle the country's crime problems.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Private Sector Commission at Le Meridien Pegasus yesterday, the Guyanese leader said that the need for such units is absolute in any country.

If the President's wishes are met, there could be a return of similar units similar to the Target Special Squad which, despite several allegations of corruption and other unsavoury behavioral practices, had been able to effectively eliminate a number of criminal elements during their time in existence.

“We need to get out there and hunt down criminals; I believe in that. Set up some units and they must do it with the same zeal,” the President said, referring to the former anti-crime unit.

He said that that is the only way that the law enforcement agency will get after these criminals.

Following the disbanding of the Target Special Squad, popularly called the ‘Black Clothes', early last year, the police force had embarked on the training of several ranks under the British Police Force to form an elite unit to fight crime.

A few members of these units were responsible for the shooting of two men who were allegedly involved in a robbery on a jewelry store and another suspected bandit in a bathroom at a place called ‘The Island' in Costello Housing Scheme.

However, Police Commissioner Winston Felix had stated that four of these units were disbanded because of allegations of corruption. (Felix is a liar)

President Jagdeo noted that there is no magic wand that can be waved to get crime to go away. He explained that the force needs more bodies and more aggression to fight crime.

He also disclosed that the force will be provided with an additional $50M to upgrade their technological capabilities.

During a question and answer segment of the programme a suggestion was made to have the clerical services within the Guyana Police Force given out to civilian staff.

The suggestion was welcomed by both by the President and the Commissioner of Police.

Commissioner Felix explained that he has been pushing for the removal of the licensing and certification process, as well as the Immigration Department, to be removed from the police force.

“I do not want to do licensing and certification. I have told the President that I will only hold Immigration because of the sensitive nature of the operation. I am willing to shed Immigration but, outside of our hands, there will be chaos,” the Commissioner stated.

He however noted that the civilianisation within the police force can only occur when the salary of the civilian is more than an attractive police remuneration.

“Who will want to come if the pay is not good?” Felix asked.

The President in his response to the suggestion told the gathering that government is looking at the possibility of setting up an Immigration and Naturalisation Department with its own laws.

He said that he has already offered to fill certain positions within the force with non-police staff.

“I have asked the Commissioner to give me a list of those positions,” the President said.

Another high point of the two-day session was the participation of the Opposition Leader Robert Corbin and the President in the deliberations which are aimed at coming up with solutions to fight the crime wave in Guyana .

Media consultant Christopher Nascimento commended the two leaders for their participation, noting that it augurs well for a non-partisan approach in the crime fight.

“Maintenance of law and order is to be taken seriously. Corbin committed himself to a bi-partisan approach to maintaining law and order…Luncheon though reluctantly committed also,” Nascimento said.

In his response to the comment, President Jagdeo welcomed the commitment of the Opposition Leader.

“I see this fight against crime as not being partisan. I recently spoke of a Commission on Law and Order, which will include opposition parties, the private sector, the police and the army,” the President stated.

Over the past two days members of the business community managed to get a number of commitments from the leaders of the political and law enforcement directorate on the issue of crime.

A number of proposals were put forward, which the private sector hopes will benefit the country as a whole as the fight to reduce crime continues.

Police must deal with crime situation more aggressively

President Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed frustration with the Guyana Police Force's lack of aggression in dealing with the crime and insecurity problem along the East Coast corridor.

The Head of State told media operatives yesterday that he believes that the numerous criminal acts being unleashed on innocent persons on the East Coast are intended to keep the fear and insecurity in society alive. As such, the problem necessitates a more aggressive approach.

Commenting on the recent disappearance of the two GUYSUCO workers, the President noted that such acts are obviously not carried out for monetary gains and are therefore most likely aimed at accessing political power.

“Severore aggressive approach.

Commenting on the recent disappearance of the two GUYSUCO workers, the President noted that such acts are obviously not carried out for monetary gains and are therefore most likely aimed at accessing political power.

“Several criminal activities being carried out on the East Coast are not designed for gain - I think things are being done strategically – to keep the fear in our society alive; and this constitutes terror. This situation calls for more aggression in dealing with the matter. I want people to know and understand what is at stake, not money but political power.”

The President made reference to a recently published book by Eusi Kwayana which he says acknowledges that the insecurity situation in Buxton arose as means of overthrowing his administration.

“When I described these acts as acts of terrorism a while back, I was accused of making light of the issue,” the President said.

Jagdeo reiterated that much more can be done by the police force in actively arresting the situation since the criminal elements are more or less concentrated in a few areas.

“I am frustrated that every time I talk to the police they tell me they are in the planning stages of going after these criminal elements. They need to be more aggressive in getting them.”

The President plans to raise the issue at a meeting with Cabinet and the Guyana Defence Force shortly.

He also lamented the limitations of his administration in removing some categories of persons found to be inefficient in their duties.

“The length of time that it takes the police to do simple things is sometimes very frustrating. Just to get them to put in few snap road blocks, involves a long planning period, according to them.”

The Head of State said the police need to shake off the apparent state of lethargy that has engulfed them.

He noted that the police now seem more concerned with human rights issues rather than getting the job done.

“There is certain reluctance on the part of the police and I believe that the PNC smear campaign of accusing the police of extra judicial killings has finally gotten to them. They are now afraid to shoot at anyone lest they be accused of that.”

Nevertheless, Guyana has a lower crime rate than many countries which are equipped with better resources, he said.

He said that on a per capital basis, Guyana has a lower crime rate than the United States .

In the face of the seeming inability of the police force to deal effectively with the situation and recent requests by regional countries for help from external agencies including the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the President was questioned about government's position on seeking assistance.

“We asked for FBI help when we had the first kidnapping, we were sent a list of two private agencies in the US . That was the response we got from the US Government,” the President replied, adding that his administration remains open to making another attempt, but he is very optimistic. (Melanie Allicock)