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Military to play ‘bigger role’ in national development
–– says President Ali at ceremony to officially recognise five newly-promoted officers
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PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali on Monday unveiled plans to have the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) play a more significant role in the country’s development.
He made the announcement during the course of a simple but symbolic ceremony at State House to officially recognise the five newly-promoted officers of the GDF, which event saw him pinning them with their new badges of rank.
Those officers so recognised were Colonel Gary Beaton, who was promoted to the rank of Substantive Brigadier, and Lieutenant Colonels Ronald Hercules, Julius Skeete, Omar Khan and Kenlloyd Roberts, who were all promoted to the rank of Substantive Colonel.
Four of the officers, except for Colonel Skeete, who’d received his in 2018, were also awarded the coveted Military Service Medal (MSM). Regarded as the second highest commendation in the life of a Serviceman, the MSM is usually awarded for exceptional service, above and beyond the call of duty, or for gallantry while in action.
In his address at the mid-morning function, President Ali said that not only were the promotions long overdue, but necessary to the strengthening of the Army’s leadership, and a manifestation of the Defence Board’s intention to ensure that the GDF is continuously manned by a team of professional and highly-motivated officers.
“I congratulate Brigadier Gary Beaton on his appointment; his promotion is duly deserved,” he began. “I commend him for his outstanding and committed service; his service is worthy of emulation. His elevation to the rank of Brigadier should serve as an incentive to others to strive for greater professionalism and excellence in the discharge of their duties.”
Turning his attention next to Lieutenant Colonels Hercules, Skeete, Khan and Roberts, President Ali said, “I also extend congratulations to the other newly-appointed Colonels; their promotions are meritorious and overdue. I charge these five officers to give their full support to the acting Chief-of-Staff, who retains my confidence. Other
to working with Guyana to advance shared values, economic prosperity and security in the Region.
Pompeo on Monday tweeted, “Spoke with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali to express our congratulations promotions will follow in the future.”
IMPORTANCE OF
PROMOTIONS
On the subject of the importance of promotions, the Commander-in-Chief said they are essential to entrenching a system of meritocracy and to reward performance, qualification and experience, and his government will ensure that it adopts a policy to ensure that all those deserving of promotion are so elevated.
Speaking specifically to the subject at hand, President Ali said: “The second on his election victory. Democracy ultimately prevailed in Guyana. The United States stands ready to work with our Guyanese neighbour after this historic transition.” purpose of today’s ceremony was to confer the Military Service Medal on four officers. The Constitution of Orders of Guyana at Article 32 (1) provides that the Military Service Medal may be awarded in respect of military service by Members of the Guyana Defence Force, in action or other distinguished service beyond the call of duty. As President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and in the exercise of the duties of that office, I was pleased to confer the award to [these Officers]. I congratulate the recipients; they are richly deserving of this honour. The nation acknowledges and salutes their
At Monday’s ceremony to officially recognise the five GDF Officers who were recently promoted. With President Irfaan Ali and Chief-of-Staff Godfrey Bess (centre and third right respectively) are the five Servicemen in whose honour the event was held
splendid service.”
Moving on to other matters of equal importance, President Ali said that as the country moves forward, the Defence Board has commenced discussions on how the military and the men and women of the Armed Forces can become more integrated in their communities, and how their service can and will be utilised at the level of communities.
INTEGRAL TO DEVELOPMENT
“Guyanese must not only see these distinguished men and women in uniform as just members of the Army; they must see you as a key and integral part of development; of their community and national development,” he said, adding: “Our military is blessed with great men and women, with tremendous skillsets and experience and the know-how. The time has come for us to harness this great potential in our military to uplift and build communities all across the country.”
On the subject of making the military more community-oriented, engaged and aligned with national development goals, particularly as Guyana continues to emerge as an oil economy, he used the opportunity to urge the men and women before him to see themselves not only as distinguished men and women in the Army, but to play a key role in community and national development.
“We must think outside the box as we chart a course where the military will be actively and integrally involved in the development shift and advancement of our country, especially with the oil-and-gas sector; new security challenges, border challenges,” the president said. “The military must play a major role in the emerging needs of our country,” he
Members of the Defence Board, including the Prime Minister, Brigadier (rtd) Mark Phillips; Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall; and Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Robeson Benn also attended the ceremony.
U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo congratulates President Ali
THE United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has congratulated President Mohamed Irfaan Ali on his victory at the March 2 General and Regional Elections, adding that he looks forward
added.
Additionally, Pompeo Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus stated that President Ali’s electoral victory reflected a free, fair, credible, and transparent electoral process that respects the rule of law and the will of the Guyanese people.
protest
AFTER clashing with the The police, in a statement activities, noting that the police in the early hours issued on Sunday afternoon, protests by the residents were of Monday, and spending made it clear they would use reminiscent of the PNC of the night on the roadways, all legal means necessary to old. protesters in Region Five stop the illegal protest, and “We ask that the leaders (Mahaica-Berbice) have alallow the traffic to flow. of APNU+AFC discontinue lowed traffic to finally flow On Monday, police in their efforts at misleading after an almost 24-hour riot gear tried to disperse the residents of Belladrum, stoppage at Belladrum, the protesters, but were met and that they desist from West Coast Berbice. with resistance. At least one inciting further protest ac
T h e p r o t e s t e r s h a d civilian and a policeman were tion. These actions are only blocked the roads, demandinjured during the standoff. reflective of the actions of ing the release of the embatDespite getting the crowd the PNC back in 1992, after tled returning officer of Rethat was in breach of the they lost general elections gion Four, Clairmont Mingo. COVID-19 protocols to temthat year. The ‘Mo Fyah,
The protesters used old porarily disperse, they reSlow Fyah’ campaign was buildings, derelict vehicles, wood and other items to block the roadways, while turned and demonstration escalated. Some protestors made make-shift beds and This road which was blocked and cleared on Monday, thereby allowing for the resumption of a free flow of traffic launched by some of the very same PNC members who now constitute the setting old tyres and other camped out on the roadways sure no vehicle was allowed welcome by the protesters. roadways, and traffic was membership of the APitems on fire to prevent vehithroughout the night. to pass. By mid-afternoon, the finally allowed to flow freely. NU+AFC Coalition. The cles from passing. As the new day dawned, The protesters finally let traffic started to flow, albeit The Association for De1992 campaign caused may
The traffic build-up was more protesters joined from up after Mingo, who was at a snail’s pace, as drivers mocracy and Human Rights hem, loss of lives, looting miles in both directions, with other villages such as Calcutcharged with four counts of tried to manoeuvre the nuGuyana, in a statement and property destruction. many forced to sleep on the ta, in Mahaicony, in blocking electoral fraud, was released merous hindrances on the on Monday, is calling on It almost seems as if the tiroadways in their vehicles, the roadways. Some even after being asked to post roadways. the leadership of the APger has not lost its stripes,” while others sought alternatook to playing dominos in $600,000 in bail. Upon his Residents and police NU+AFC to stop misleading the organization said in its tive arrangements. the middle of the road to enrelease, he was given a warm ranks joined forces by late their supporters by encourstatement. afternoon to help clear the aging them to commit illegal ‘Top Cat’ further detained --pending completion of investigation into ‘Middle Road’ murder THE High Court on MonSince his incapacitation day granted the police and arrest, the police have clearance to further detain successfully approached the the prime suspect in the High Court for an extension murder of Navindra Sato keep Castello in custody, maroo, who was gunned as their investigation into down on Middle Road, La Samaroo’s murder is still Penitence last month. ongoing. Dwayne Castello, 27, The 23-year-old emcalled “Top Cat”, of East ployee of G&J Phone Cards Ruimveldt, was on August Investment on Mandela Av27, 2020, shot and arrested enue, was gunned down by policemen on patrol duty while sitting in his motorcar, on Genip Lane in the same PPP1645, on July 23, 2020 at East Ruimveldt neighbour hood in which he resides. Middle Road, La Penitence. Police have confirmed ARRESTED: Dwayne Castello
Tuesday, September 1, 2020–– 04:30hrs & 06:00hrs
DEAD: Navindra Samaroo
that Castello is also wanted in connection with a series of robberies.
Reports are that patrol ranks, acting on information they’d received on the day in question, proceeded to Genip Lane, East Ruimveldt where they saw the suspect, who, upon seeing them, attempted to flee on a black motorcycle.
By this time, the police had already stopped and disembarked the vehicle, and Castello, realising he’d been cornered, pulled out a firearm from his pants crotch and dis- charged several rounds in the lawmen’s direction.
One rank, who was quick- er on the draw than his col- leagues, returned fire, hitting the career criminal in his left foot below the knee.
Thus incapacitated, Cas- tello fell to the ground and was arrested. When searched by the police, it was discov- ered that he had in his pos- session a 9mm pistol with six live matching rounds in the magazine.
He was escorted to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was treated and has since been in police custody.
Dominguez, wife face 10 more fraud charges
By Clestine Juan
ACCELERATED Capital Firm Inc (ACFI) Financial Adviser, Yuri Garcia Dominguez and Director, Ateeka Ishmael, were, on Monday taken before the court to answer 10 fraud-related charges
Dominguez and Ishmael of Track ‘A’ Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The couple was charged jointly and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Particulars of the charges alleged that, between the months of May and July 2020, the couple, with intent to commit a felony, conspired with persons known and unknown to obtain a total sum of over $60M from 10 victims under false pretence.
The Cuban national and his wife were represented by attorneys-at-law Glen Hanoman and Dexter Todd.
Todd, during his application for bail, told the court that the accusations laid against his client are private in nature which calls for proceedings in a civil court and not a criminal court.
He further argued that the State has imposed itself as a third party to a private contract and is forcibly allowing the course of a criminal nature to take shape.
The couple was released on $1M bail each and the case was adjourned until October 5, 2020.
On Thursday, August 27, 2020, the couple first appeared before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer, at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that, between May and July 2020, the Cuban national and his wife, with intent to commit fraud, obtained a total sum of $24.7M from 13 persons by false pretence.
The couple, was not required to plead to the charges and each was granted $3.9 million bail. The case was adjourned until September 18, 2020.
The couple also made a virtual appearance before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.
A total of six similar charges were read against the duo which alleged that they obtained an excess of $1M unlawfully,
For those charges the couple was remanded to prison until September 21, 2020.
However, the couple’s attorney is expected to file an application at the High Court on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, for bail on these six charges. Thus far a total of 57 persons have made reports at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), with claims amounting to over $31.5 million in investments in the company.
The duo was first held by police one week ago following an investigation into the company allegedly running a “Ponzi Scheme”.
A Ponzi Scheme is a form of fraud in which investors are made to believe in the success of a non-existent enterprise, and encouraged to invest because of the payment of quick returns. However, the first investors are only being paid from money invested by successive investors.
However, the company vehemently denies the allegations and, in statements issued, affirmed that “the funds necessary to refund our clients are ready to be disbursed”.
The police have listed Dominguez, a naturalised Cuban national, and his wife as grave flight risks, given that they have no assets in the country. The pair is said to have been operating their investment company in Guyana for as far back as 2017; however, they have never been licensed to do so by the Guyana Securities Council (GSC) as is required.
According to reports, some 17,000 Guyanese are said to have collectively invested approximately US$20 million in the company. The company came to the limelight earlier this month, when several persons are said to have been making claims of not receiving their monies from the company.
ACFI has been attributing its failure to remit payments to clients as being due to its lack of a bank account, as several local commercial banks have closed accounts for Dominquez and Ishmael and their business over the past few months.
--to report to CID every Friday were either altered in some manner, or forged. By Clestine Juan EMBATTLED Region Four Returning result for District Four in the Regional Election of the said March 2, 2020 “His conduct shows great disrespect to the people of Guyana,” Mohammed said.
Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo, along with two other Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) employees were on Monday charged for various offences relating to electoral fraud reportedly committed during the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.
Mingo, 69, of Calcutta, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on four Former President and APNU leader David Granger talking with protesters charges of ‘Misconduct in Public Office’, but was not required to plea to the indictable offences. The first two charges against him allege that on March 5, 2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, while being a public officer… he willfully misconducted himself by declaring a result for District Four without ascertaining the General and Regional Elections. Mingo is represented by Attorneys-at-law Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels and Darren Wade. Holding for the State are Prosecutors Teriq Mohammed and Shellon Daniels. Mr. Hughes, in an application for bail, told the court that his client does After weighing the matter carefully, the Chief Magistrate released Mingo on a total of $600,000 bail, on condition that he reports to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Friday. He was also ordered to lodge his passport at the court, and keep 50 feet away from witnesses in the case. The case is adjourned until September 25, 2020. total votes cast in favour of each list in the said District Four Regional and General Election. The case against him is that he failed to add up the votes recorded in favour of each List in accordance with the Statements of Poll, which, in the eyes of the Law, amounts to a breach of the public's trust… without any reasonable excuse or justification. The last two charges against him allege that Mingo again committed the same offences, this time round on March 13, 2020, at the same GECOM High and Cowan Streets, Kingston Head Office, when he willfully misconducted himself by declaring a not pose a flight risk, and that he also has personal health issues. State prosecutor Mohammed, who thought otherwise, objected, citing the seriousness of the offence. He justified his denial by quoting former Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who headed the OAS mission here to observe the March 2, 2020 election, as saying that never before has he seen a more transparent effort to alter the results of an election. The State prosecutor further argued that the recent recount process of the elections exposed glaring irregularities which proved that the figures presented by Mingo TWO COUNTS OF CONSPIRACY Meanwhile, GECOM Elections Officer, 44-yearold Shefern February was slapped with two counts of conspiracy to defraud the public. February, of Bachelor's Adventure, East Coast Demerara, was not required to plea to the charges, which allege that on March 13, 2020 at High and Cowan Streets, Kingston, together and with others, with intent to defraud the people of Guyana… did not use the figures from the Statements of Poll for the purpose of ascertaining the figures to make the declaration of the results for the said District Four Regional Elections of the said March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elec
tions as is required by law, thereby resulting in a false declaration being made for the said District Four Regional Elections of the said March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.
She was represented by Attorney-at-law Eusi Anderson, Latoya Roberts and Nigel Hughes.
Anderson told the court that while his client was in police custody, she was denied her fundamental right to an attorney by a member of the Guyana Police Force.
Despite the fact that the prosecutor objected to February, too, being granted bail, for fear that she might tamper with the witnesses in the case, the Chief Magistrate also released her on bail, but in the sum of $300,000, on condition that she reports to CID Headquarters, and lodge her passport with the court. She was also ordered to return to court on September 25.
In the case of GECOM Information Technology Officer, Enrique Livan, who was charged for Conspiracy to Defraud, he, too, was not required to plea.
The 27-year-old, who resides at Turkeyen, on the lower East Coast, is also represented by Anderson, Roberts and Hughes.
The charges against him are that between March 4-5,2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, together and with others, with intent to defraud the people of Guyana, while being appointed as a clerk for District Four of the Guyana Elections Commission, for the purpose of the Regional and General Elections of March 2, 2020, unlawfully altered the figures in the course of the recording of the numbers from the statements of poll for District Four for the purpose of the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections results.
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Shaik Baksh back as GWI CEO
THE Ministry of Housing and Water, on Monday, announced the appointment of Shaik Baksh as chief executive officer of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI).
The ministry and its sister agency, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, in a release, said it looks forward to working together for the further development of the sector.
Baksh brings with him a wealth of experience having served in the sector for a number of years. He held the post of Minister of Housing and Water from 1998 to 2006. He also served in the capacity of CEO at the Guyana Water Inc. from 2012 to 2015.
Baksh, who also served as education minister under the PPP/C government, holds a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Guyana and
Celebrating Guyana’s First Peoples
THE month of September is a celebratory time for all Amerindians and/or descendants of the original inhabitants of Guyana -- our indigenous peoples.
Since Dr. Cheddi Jagan decreed September to be Amerindian Heritage Month in 1995, there has been projected into the national and psychological psyche that Amerindians are no longer going to be a marginalised people subsisting on the crumbs of developmental initiatives within the national construct, but will be fully integrated into the holistic national programme for development by the PPP/C Administration; and one of the basic components of this new paradigm is the Amerindian Act.
The Amerindian Act (1976) has never been enforced since its existence and did not fully address Amerindian rights and entitlements: However, the PPP/C Government, after a comprehensive review and stakeholder consultations, drove and passed the Amerindian Act of 2005, which addressed all of Guyana’s First Peoples’ pressing concerns, foremost among which were land-titling issues and sub-soil rights.
The Amerindian Act, 2005 provides for, inter alia: 1) Grants to communal land.
Unlike the old Act, the new Act includes a process for the granting of land. For instance, a community can apply for land once they can prove that they have been living there for at least 25 years and the minister must commence an I stepped aside and saw a mob investigation and make a decision within six months. 2) Leases: The minister is not required to approve leasing of titled Amerindian land, as opposed to the first Act where the minister is required to approve it. In the new Act, the communities are only required to seek the advice of the minister. 3) Intellectual Property Rights: With respect to the use of scientific research, the researcher will, among other things, have to submit to the Village Council a copy of any publication containing materials derived from the research. 4) Environmental Protection: The Amerindian Act supports the need for the communities to use their natural resources in a way that lends support to the concept of sustainability: Impact Assessments will have to be completed in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act. 5) Mining and Forestry: Amerindians will have a legal right to traditional mining with the consent of the Village Council and they must comply with the relevant legislation. With regard to forestry, the Village Council plays an integral role in determining who is allowed to use their land and on what terms. 6) Governance: The Village Council is empowered to establish rules for their communities and set fines within the legal confines of the law. Notably, the money received due to the non- adherence of the rules, goes into the Village Council’s account, not the government’s. needs to clean the city of the 7) Consultations: More than half of the recommendations are reflected in the Act. These inclusions were as a result of recommendations from the communities and other stakeholders. The process lasted two years and is an unprecedented one in this part of the hemisphere.
The Amerindians of Guyana are given equal status within the landscape of Guyanese citizenhood, while yet being encouraged to sustain their cultural and traditional norms; this far surpasses the treatment meted out to indigenous peoples of even first-world countries. The Amerindian Act is merely one component of the holistic approach successive PPP/C governments have taken to enhance economic growth and social development in Amerindian communities.
The current government has signalled its intention to revise and review the administrative dynamics directly affecting Amerindian developmental constructs over the past five years and reverse, wherever necessary, decisions that adversely affected indigenous peoples’ communities, lives, and ways of life; as well as to create inclusionary initiatives to ensure that Amerindians share, in equal measure to that enjoyed by coastal citizens, the resources of this country that belongs to all the people of the land.
The management and staff of GNNL and the Guyana Chronicle wish all of Guyana’s indigenous peoples a
Citizens attacked on Demico downtown premises
Dear Editor,
I AM forced to bring to the attention the following incident I observed on Sunday, August 30, 2020 on the premises of the Demico Outlet downtown, Georgetown.
I walked by the Demico Building towards The Guyana Police Force Mobile Unit and all of a sudden, I heard loud voices of females behind and as I turned around, I observed a confrontation of a female and others on the premises of the DEMICO Outlet. I was clueless as to what was happening and then I saw a female of dark complexion, about 5’ 6’ in height, very short hair and dirty looking, running towards my direction. chasing her and I distinctly heard voices from the mob saying, ‘she just juk some women and she only playing mad.’
I stood there looking at the female being chased as she ran upstairs to the mobile unit and tried to close the door behind her from the mob that was chasing her. I didn’t venture closer, but I overheard the mob which got closer saying, “look how she juk up them women and she ain’t mad, she playing mad.”
I then observed two females, assisted by public-spirited citizens, being taken to the mobile unit for the police officers to have a look at what the suspect just did. It appeared the two females were harmed and shortly after, an ambulance arrived and took the two females away. Perhaps to the hospital.
T h i s a l l h a p p e n e d mid-morning because I headed off to my destination of Parika and reached there a few minutes before noon.
Thanks to those public-spirited citizens who came to the rescue of the two injured females.
I have always said via the press over the years that the government of the day
happy Amerindian Heritage Month.
homeless, vagrants, mentally challenged persons etc.
Who would have been held responsible if those two females had died from the wounds they sustained?
Perhaps the Guyana Police Force, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, can educate the public on what happened to the two injured females.
The Ministry of Social Cohesion, which I think overlooks these people on the streets, needs to urgently address this situation. Perhaps I am incorrect with the ministry, but can someone forward this observation to the relevant ministry.
Politics diminished the Maha Sabha UPON the passing of the seems that Dr. J.B. Singh was late Sase Narain, inevita- officially the first Hindu to be bly his association with the cremated after this final rite Maha Sabha of Lamaha for Hindus was legalised in Street came into the fore then British Guiana. where he served as Presi- In the minds of many Hindent for a lengthy period be- dus, the Maha Sabha’s unforfore handing over to the late tunate allegiance to the PNC Judge Ramraj Jagnandan. under the leadership of Sase
I think it would be ap- Narain began the downfall of posite to note here that this this once great organization, organization, which is still in creating a split within the existence, is probably the first Hindu community and leading organised body in Guyana to a gradual whittling down which propagated Sanatan of its large membership and Vedic Dharma in a structured estrangement of prominent manner and many stalwarts of Hindus. the past were associated with I believe the lesson is it but one name stands out as a that Hindu organisations founder member in the 1930s should stay away from poand that is the redoubtable Dr. litical affiliation and concenJung Bahadur Singh, who lobtrate strictly on the promobied intensively during British tion and propagation of our colonial rule for the right of great and eternal Dharma. Hindus to be cremated.
Maybe the divine law of Yours sincerely, Karma played its hand and it Chris Persaud
Time to move on with our lives
Dear Editor,
“THE United States is closely monitoring the tabulation of votes in Guyana ….we join the OAS Commonwealth, EU, CARICOM and other democratic partners who are calling for an accurate count. We commend CARICOM’s role in seeking a swift democratic resolution and it is important to note that the individuals who seek to benefit from electoral fraud and form illegitimate governments/ regimes will be subject to a variety of serious consequences from the United States”. Those words were uttered by Mr. Mike Pompeo, speaking earlier in March 2020 at the State Department. It was another country’s intention to punish all those who directly and indirectly thwarted the democratic process in Guyana and, they did! What do you expect the concerned country to do? Sit and twiddle her fingers and say you guilty ones are forgiven? It was the caretaker President, David Granger himself, also earlier in March, after the election, had warned, “It is my sworn duty, as President, to uphold the Constitution and keep our citizens safe. I intend to do so. I will not allow political malefactors to hijack our democracy and compromise public order and human safety. Law and order will be maintained.” President Ali is only following a precedence committed by the past President and abiding with Granger’s intention to allow law and order to be maintained by bringing to justice all those who had participated in the obstruction of the smooth flow of the election process. Thank you Mr. Granger for your good advice and guidance for President Ali to adhere to and implement. The popular will of the people must never be compromised with fraudulent actions and behaviour nor by intimidation. The APNU+AFC Party denied democracy to Guyana when they refused to accept the consequences of the NCM since in December 2018. Granger’s appointment of Patterson as the GECOM Chairman was unconstitutional. Signing contracts and agreements during December 2018 and August 1, 2020 were not in concurrence with the “caretaker mode.” Attempting to steal an election and illegitimately gain power was a criminal act. Collusion and corruption by embezzlement is fraud. Encouraging and inciting violence is working against the law and disrespectful to human safety. Organising illegal gatherings and protesters is not abiding with COVID-19 regulations and keeping with the law. Who are the perpetrators of all that Granger had cautioned against? Only the APNU+AFC Party and Granger himself who are the delinquent ones, culpable and capable to be inglorious hypocrites of the highest order.
According to Dr. Kissoon of the Ministry of Health, who was a member of the visiting party, his reason for visiting was to let the persons within the community understand the importance of wearing of masks, washing hands and practising social distancing to stop the spread of COVD-19. From the photograph in the newspaper all had on their masks. The police also dealt with many issues and con- cerns affecting the residents and promised to return to that location shortly for further interactions with them. The senior law men abandoned the traditional bird’s eye view that let them see everything from above, from the sky. Instead, during the visit, the trio as- sumed a worm’s eye view of things, trying to find whatever comes right in front of them - smell it, touch it, feel it and see if they can do something about it.
Positive activities between the police and residents of Rosemary Lane, particularly with the youths, is nothing new. It peaked when Laurie Lewis was the Commissioner of Police. However, over the past few years due to diverse reasons activities declined and almost flattened. Apparently, an attempt is now being made to raise the level of activity between the police and members of that neglected community.
One tool to help law enforcement tackle crime through problem solving is what Cohen and Felson theo- rised as the Crime Triangle. It sits on three legs: The victim, the suspect and the location. Crime is presumed amenable to suppression if any of the three legs of the triangle is
Again in March 2020, Granger had pleaded with all sides of the divide sayremoved or neurtralised. In the crime triangle, location is a critical element in reducing crime and the fear of crime. At numerous locations there are many issues operating that are causing crime to flourish. They may be political, eco- nomic, social, technical, legal and environmental. (PES- TLE). Unless the PESTLE is adequately addressed crime will boom.
Many law enforcement agencies pay most attention to the suspects, less to the vic- tims, while the locations are left almost untouched. Braiden (1998) recommended another way to view the significance of location - “the hunt and the habitat:” I can’t think of two special - interest groups more physophically opposed to each other than hunters and animal rights activists, yet there are two things they totally agree upon: the species will survive the hunt; it will not survive the loss of its habitat.
What can policing learn from this basic principle of nature? Well if the basic principle is to eliminate the criminal specie forever, surely the best way to do that is to eliminate the habitat that spawns and sustains that species. Struc- tured as it is, the criminal justice system puts 95 per cent of its resources into the hunt ing, “Guyanese are asked to contribute to ensuring that we maintain law and order at all costs. Guyana is a lawful state. We must allow the institutions which we revere and on which we rely to work to ensure that there will be a fair outcome to the issue which we now face.” Isn’t this good advice for Joe Harmon, the current “Hammy,” the seemingly tough bully who is a self-imposed “Leader of the Opposition” and proclaiming to want to carry the fight to the PPP/C Party in Parliament? He is a sub-standard tactician, a technician whose attrition for such a position will only encourage further partition, an arithmetician whose opinion for the election recount result would seriously question his role as an academician, his diabolical ambition is fruition for parliamentary prohibition and as such, Guyanese admonition for suspicion is in keeping with a tradition composing of an inhibition filled with apprehension. In the eyes of an educated youthful Guyanese generation who is consciously while the habitat is left almost untouched. We can never win working that way, because the habitat never stops supplying new customers for the hunt.”
The challenges faced by the police are numerous. They defy any one-shot solution. The police cannot solve crime alone. Rules without relation- ship lead to rebellion. The po- lice must establish and sustain effective partnerships with members in the communities they swore to serve and pro- tect. Sustainability must be the watchword. In fact, working in partnership with members of the communities is enshrined in the mission statement of the Guyana Police Force.
Activities by the police like the one alluded to above must be replicated and sus- tained in all the police divi- sions. It is called Commu- nity-oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS). The police are not only required to solve crimes but to work in tandem with members of the community to identify problems therein and find solutions to them. It is not a project, it is not a pro- gramme,it is a culture. It must be a constant work in progress. It will promote trust and cater for greater public confidence in the police. It will empower the police to be proactive serious about being upright in moral dignity and as a law-abiding citizen, whose judgement is not derailed by blindness due to discrimination, who is educated to make correct judgmental decision and whose mind is scripturally influenced for guidance, would you seriously consider such an imposter to truly represent your interest and the country’s interest, acknowledging his unscrupulous past?
Let the games begin and another war break began with the filing of the election petition yesterday. The Belladrum protest is its existentialism. All the battles fought by the APNU+AFC Party were lost to the PPP/C Party. It is of paramount importance though that Guyanese pay heed to the teachings of Granger, a historian, whose fatherly message to this nation can carry a far reaching effect, especially to himself and his APNU+AFC Party followers. He said after the election, “Guyanese will continue to live with each other. We be provoked into taking any action which will engender hate or disharmony.” It was in the same vein that Dr. Irfaan Ali had accepted the presidency and had stressed that Guyanese are not separated by class, ethnicity, religion or political persuasion. Philosophising a prediction, President Ali had surmised, “There is only one future and that future requires a united Guyana, that future requires a strong Guyana, that future requires every Guyanese to play a part in building our country, ensuring that we leave a better Guyana for the next generation.” With the 12th sitting of Parliament today, all Guyanese eagerly await for Guyana to once again get rolling under the PPP/C Party mantle and for the opportunity for the materialisation of both presidents’ dreams. Guyanese need to move on with their lives and to exit their hibernation.
Respectfully, Jai Lall
Police alone cannot solve crime
Dear Editor
I RECENTLY perused an article in the press under the heading, “Focus returns to Tiger Bay.” The missive reported on a visit paid to Tiger Bay, sorry, Rosemary Lane, by officers at the apex of management of the Guy- ana Police Force: Clifton Hicken, Assistant Commis- sioner Operations; Royston Andries, Junior Assistant Commissioner Police Public Relations and Press Offi- cer, and Simon Mc Bean, Assistant Commissioner, Commander Region Four (a). It was pleasing to note such high-ranking mem- bers of the Guyana Police Force visiting a depressed community. It was so nice to observe in this virtual time so many policeboots of various sizes and high quality literally pounding the beat at Rosemary Lane.
must not allow ourselves to
rather than reactive, thus, enabling them to do more in- telligence-led policing. Green shoots will emerge. They will be fruitful. However, in this COVID-19 era, the police in their community relations activities must ensure that they, and those they interact with, protect themselves with their PPE and adhere to other COVID-19 recommendations or they will be in violation of COVID-19 Emergency Measures.
Stephen R Covey in his book, “The 8th Habit From Effectiveness to Greatness,”
posited that managers, lead- ers and organisations must move from effectiveness to greatness. I pray that God will inspire the police to move from effectiveness to great- ness. You cannot do policing without God. So it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end. I recommend Covey’s book as a must read for all police officers.
