Head of the Criminal Investigation Department, of the Guyana Police Force, Assistant Commissioner, Mr. Seelall Persaud has released statistics showing as at 31st October (the 304th day of the year 2010), the Force has recorded 116 murders. This number represented a rate of one death every two-and-a-half days. The PNC/R at it’s weekly press conference told reporters that the reasons why the Police Force is incapable of detecting and solving so many murders are not difficult to discern.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Greene, has complained repeatedly that the Police Force is 20 per cent under strength and there are not sufficient constables to conduct anti-crime patrols, man far flung Police stations and respond to crimes. Greene also admitted that the single greatest number of murders occurred in the hinterland, yet it is this very Division that has the least number of policemen and equipment and the largest number of stations. The opposition party on the issue said that the PPP/C Administration refuses to bring the Guyana Police Force up to the required strength.
The People’s National Congress Reform is of the view that the Administration should immediately adopt the recommendations of the Disciplined Forces Commission and implement a sensible Security Sector Reform Plan to deal with the Police Force’s personnel problems. Only in this way will a start be made to deterring criminals, detecting crime and diminishing the current murder rate, the party feels.
