- Rohee assures Bartica residents, businessmen
THE administration and the Joint Services are relentlessly continuing their efforts to dismantle the criminal enterprise which created havoc in January and February this year by killing 23 persons in Lusignan and Bartica.

Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee who gave this assurance yesterday at a meeting in Bartica with residents and the business community said the government, through the Joint Services, is engaged in several different activities to restore order; pointing to the increase of ranks in several parts of the country.

Speaking to a large gathering at the Modern Hotel, the Minister said one of the main objectives is to dismantle the criminal enterprise which he said is larger than men running around with guns; citing the harbouring of criminals by certain persons in society.

“This enterprise is comprised of persons who facilitate the criminals and armed gangs. They provide them with transportation, safe housing, information, weapons and food. In other words they sustain them and that is what this criminal enterprise is all about.”

It was against this backdrop that Rohee took the opportunity to outline ways in which both the administration and security forces are taking to tackle the issue.

“That is why we passed a Law in the Parliament that anyone found harbouring criminals will be subjected to a penalty of imprisonment as well as a heavy fine because we cannot have a situation where persons purporting to be innocent are giving accommodation to criminal elements while they are plotting and planning their activities,” Minister Rohee asserted.

In May last year, the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) (Amendment) was passed in the National Assembly for penalties for those who are engaged in harbouring criminals.

The Bill provides for the offenders on conviction to be liable to a fine of not less than $50,000 nor more than $80,000 together with imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years.

Minister Rohee pointed out that persons must understand that though every effort is not being shouted from a roof-top, there are ongoing efforts to prevent and make it difficult for criminal gangs to carry out another massacre.

“Is not only to dismantle the criminal enterprise but to contain them, make it difficult for them to execute activities of the types that were executed at Lusignan and Bartica…It’s not about sitting back and waiting for when they will come. One has to take preventative measures,” he said.

Residents and members of the business community were afforded the opportunity to voice their concerns on security-related matters and to offer suggestions on crime fighting.

Several issues were raised including, noise nuisance, youth involvement in drugs and sexual offences in riverine communities.

A few suggestions were put forward which included the need for a better community/police relationship and for every passenger arriving by boat to be subjected to security checks at the Bartica Police Station.

Meanwhile, prior to the meeting, the Minister addressed members of the Joint Services at the Bartica Police station where he expressed on behalf of the government appreciation for their work.

He reiterated the need for better community/police relations arguing that if there is a disconnection only one set of persons will benefit; the criminals.

Since 1993, government has been investing a lot in the law enforcement agencies to improve their capacity.

In this year’s budget, the security and defence sectors have been allocated $13.7B to improve their capabilities which will enable a safer environment for all Guyanese.

Among other actions that will be taken with collaborative work with the multilateral and bilateral agencies are:

** improving the capability of rapid response systems to serious crimes;

** upgrading communication systems and expanding access to police and other databases;

** improving intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities;

** intensifying training in special operations for selected Joint Services members;

** equipping crime fighting forces with appropriate transportation and technologically appropriate equipment to enhance their capacity on the ground;

** improving the oversight of the sector by strengthening the Office of Professional Responsibility, Police Complaints Authority and Police Service Commission.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has received a Bell 206 Helicopter while another is expected shortly.