By Gordon French
Caribbean Net News Guyana Correspondent
Email: gordon@caribbeannetnews.com
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana has been able to keep gun-related crimes under control despite sporadic burst of criminal activities during the first half of the year, Acting Police Commissioner, Henry Greene said this week. So far, police have recovered 80 illegal firearms, 10 more than the entire 2006 period, while instituting charges against 63 persons.
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| Police conducting a routine search operation |
“There has been an increase in robbery with violence and aggravation. This tells you that there is less firearms than they had in the past or that people don’t walk with them because they are afraid the patrols will catch them,” Greene said.
Over the last five years, Guyana has been grappling with high levels of criminal activities, with AK-47s often being the weapon of choice for criminals. But, increased patrols and surveillance by the police since last December has continued, despite the force being short of some 800 ranks.
“We have made great sacrifice to put members of our ranks on the street… Sometimes we have to balance it and decide what the greater good is and that is to be out there and make the public feel confident that vigilance is maintained,” Greene told reporters following an award ceremony to recognise the work of outstanding ranks.
He called on Guyanese to recognise the work of the force as it seeks to sustain its crime fight.
“I think many times the public forget the work that we do... Despite how much work we do, focus is always on what we don’t do and seldom what we do. So, every so often we have to recognise ourselves,” Greene said. |
