Comments and Responses

by Mr. Robert Persaud
INFORMATION LIAISON TO THE PRESIDENT

Pre-empting Another Buxton Madness

The criminal madness that blight the historic village of Buxton was a key result of the 2002-2003 politically-inspired crime wave.  To date, this once respectable village has fallen into infamy.

Since that crime wave, the law enforcement agencies were able to tame the  situation, unlike neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica where criminal activities have now spiraled out of control.

            The President of Guyana, at the start of the crime lull in late 2003, urged the nation and the crime fighters not to be complacent. He observed that there can never be a society free of crime and all need to remain vigilant. Crime and security has remained a priority for the Government, especially in light of what was taking place in certain CARICOM territories and further afield. Billions of dollars are poured into this sector annually, hardly any request for additional policy support is denied, available overseas help is being tapped and the administration has been creating an enabling environment for the agents of law and order to do their work.    

            The sad reality is that the village of Buxton was never totally cleansed of the criminals who have held the entire community hostage. Many residents left the area in fear and the armed criminal gangs would from, time to time, carry out flash attacks on certain residents and their `opponents.’ The seeming criminal safe-haven status has changed little, although the wider country enjoys a significant reduction in crime.

            To the police’s credit, they have and are keeping a close watch on the criminal elements in Buxton. There are mixed views on the level of success. Notwithstanding the challenge of intelligence gathering and inadequate opposition political support, there have been a number of successful `cordon and search’ operations where wanted elements were captured and killed in shootout with the police.  The past two weeks saw a sustained operation to go after the criminal elements suspected to be hiding out in the community and its dense backlands. 

            The police’s efforts are always frustrated by the political types who seem to reject the notion that people’s safety and security are paramount. The opposition talk-show host programmes on Channel Nine readily kick into action to attack the police. And certain political activists are seen frequenting the area once anti-crime operations are mounted.

About two months ago, I brought to the public’s attention the nasty attacks on the police by sections of the opposition media and urged decent-minded citizens and civil society to condemn such callous reports. There was little response from these groups and even the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting was reticent. 

            Sometimes, as a society we have too short a memory and can repeat the same mistakes often. Other times, we fail to recognize important signs and take immediate action where needed to prevent tragedies of the past from recurring. Social sores just do not go away. They have to be attended to until cured.

Given the nature of crime, criminals and (in our case) their political handlers, there must not be any let-off by the law enforcement agencies in ridding our communities of criminal elements, especially Buxton. Any crime situation must be nipped in the bud and all Guyanese, notwithstanding political and other differences, must support these efforts.

            As was demonstrated in the 2002-2003 crime wave, the criminals after a time behave like monsters and have no allegiance - political or ethnic. For the safety of all, the laws of the country must be enforced and the agents of the law be given the opportunity to be effective.

            Whether or not the recent disappearance of the two sugar workers aback Vigilance/Buxton was the work of the Buxton-based criminal gangs, no angle ought to be ignored. If we err, we must err on the side of caution (or security).

            Those who claim to possess an anti-crime master plan or have solutions to our challenges must stop blowing hot air and give tangible support to the agencies in preventing any possible resurgence.      

            Crime and politics are an explosive mix. The political activists and the talk-show hosts who side with the criminal elements must redeem themselves by either severing those ties and/or by cooperating with the law enforcement agencies. The crime fighting efforts must not be politicised. Those who use the terrible effects of crime as an opportunity to knock the government must stop this perverse behaviour. The fight against crime most have the support from all sectors, groups and individuals.

On this another anniversary of our Independence, all peace-loving and patriotic Guyanese are duty-bound to contribute positively to the safety and security of their fellow countrymen and women.