Georgetown: The A Partnership and National Unity (APNU/Alliance For Change (AFC) have emboldened criminals by their non-support for tougher penalties for trafficking in firearms and the national security plan, according to the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP)
The party rejected recent statements emanating from the camps of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in seeking to lay blame at the doorsteps of Government for the recent upsurge in criminal activities, particularly gun related crimes.
According to a statement by the party, “What is even more astonishing is that both the AFC and APNU have recognized the devastating impact the use of illegal firearms by criminals has had on our society and the fact that more needs to be done to provide the Guyana Police Service with additional support to go after gun smugglers.
Having recognized this reality, the People’s Progressive Party call on them to explain to the Guyanese people, particularly the victims of these gun crimes, why they teamed up against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic in the National Assembly and used their combined one seat majority – to vote down the Firearm Amendment bill on March 13 of this year.
They sacrificed the safety and security of all Guyanese in their pursuit of petty and vindictive politics.
The nation will recall the Minister of Home Affairs Mr. Clement Rohee and the PPP/C were fighting to have this amendment passed to close a loophole in the constitution, so as to make it easier for the Police to prosecute and the courts to sentence gun smugglers; thereby making it more difficult for criminals to access firearms and as a result reduce incidents of crime, particularly as it relates to the use of firearms.
“The APNU/AFC have emboldened criminals by their non-support of this initiative and the national security plan by extension. Hence, the recent statement by APNU that it refuses to take any blame for the crime situation is a clear indication of guilt on their part.”
This support for criminals further manifests itself in the fact that it was under the watch of former Commissioner of Police Winston Felix, now APNU Member of Parliament that some of the worst atrocities in our modern history have occurred, including the Lusignan, Bartica, Agricola and Lindo creek massacres.
“This support for criminals by the combined opposition is even more glaring when one takes into consideration that defending gunmen has now become synonymous with both APNU MP Basil Williams and AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes.”
We are also reminded of the fact that it is no other than Mr. Nigel Hughes who was accused of tampering with Police evidence when he removed the surveillance tape from a crime scene in Buxton which was believed to have captured the identities of the perpetrators of the act.
Hughes also represented one of the accused in the Lusignan massacre just recently in the High Court.
They have now gone to the extent of contaminating the administration of justice with the damning revelations after the conclusion of the Lusignan massacre trial of what was up to that point a secret lawyer/client relationship between Nigel Hughes and the jury foreman. The foreman admitted his association with Hughes and was subsequently banned for life.
Yet, AFC MP Mrs. Kathy Hughes has the temerity to sit before the press and talk about ethics and feign concern about the crime situation and more particularly as it relates to gun crimes.
Up to this point there has not been any comment or condemnation of Mr. Hughes conduct coming from the Guyana Human Rights Association, the Guyana Bar Association and other like-minded institutions.
We have also noticed the very Mr. Hughes in the media today professing his concern for the crime situation. You cannot on one hand defend the criminals and aid them in escaping justice, where in most cases they return to continue terrorizing innocent citizens and then on the other hand say that you are interested in ridding society of these very individuals.”
Moreover, we wish to point out that despite this continued trend of attempts to undermine the security sector anti-crime efforts; we remain steadfast in our support to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Service.
We are encouraged by the recent arrests in several high profile crimes and we wish to encourage the GPS to go after these criminals in a relentless manner and place them before our courts, so that justice can be served.”
On a closing note, we also would like to acknowledge the fact that quick response by Police Ranks today resulted in the interception of a gang of bandits in the Meten-Meer-Zorg area as they were in the process of committing a robbery. While details are still sketchy, we understand that at least one of the bandits was killed and others arrested during a confrontation with the law enforcement ranks. We do hope that diligent work will result in the arrest of all involved in this crime and that they are brought to justice.”
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