Tackling the crime situation is my government’s number one priority, at this time.
We have witnessed, over the past eight weeks, criminal elements, primarily the February 23rd prison escapees, conducting an escalating campaign of robbery, hijacking and killing of innocent Guyanese. More recently, the criminal elements have ambushed police patrols, attacked a police station, resulting in the death of more law enforcement personnel. These newer tactics have introduced a feature of criminal behaviour that has affected security in Guyana.
These criminal activities have also generated fear and insecurity. Aspects of our day-to-day life especially that of our business community have been disrupted. I fully understand the anxieties and am deeply concerned about this. That is why no effort is being spared to apprehend the criminals.
Over the years, the administration has recognized the importance of personal and national security. We have consistently strengthened the security agencies. For instance, the budgetary allocation to the Guyana Police Force for the purchase of vehicles, boats, weapons, communication sets and other appropriate materials has increased from $35M per annum one decade ago to $333M this year. Similar support has been provided to the Army.
We recognized very early that our law enforcement agencies had to provide better services. Based on a request by the Government of Guyana, the British Government conducted a series of studies on the criminal justice system in 2000. Since then, we have seen support initiatives flowing from these studies that will result in improved services. In this area, I have even been personally involved in meetings with senior British Government officials and top officers of Scotland Yard.
Moreover and importantly, it was agreed at various levels that we had to enhance Joint Services collaboration on certain aspects of the fight against crime and narco-traffiking. Their collaboration and networking have become a standard part of current law enforcement responses against crime. Incidentally, this approach has been adopted by regional law enforcement agencies in their fight against crime.
Many people are calling for the Army to be involved in the campaign against the recent spate of crimes. The Army has been involved. Following the jail escape, the Joint Services have mounted joint police-army task forces that have been given responsibilities for intelligence gathering and special operations. The Army augmented and reinforced the law enforcement presence on our highways, villages and backlands by conducting foot and vehicular patrols and manning roadblocks. The Army’s Engineering Corps has been tasked with restoring and ensuring the free flow of traffic on the embankment road through Buxton village, which had been ditched by anti-social elements. And, as we speak, the Army has several exercises, especially along the East Coast of Demerara.
To also serve the cause of law and order, support for the formation and functioning of Community Policing Groups is a responsibility taken seriously by the Guyana Police Force.
A contributory factor to the escalation in some crimes in Guyana, and one that worries my government is the arrival of criminal deportees from some countries. Some bring a special sophistication in the execution of criminal activities. And I continue to lament this troubling development, which ironically is taking place at the same time that Guyana and this region continue to lose our qualified and trained people in droves to North America. Today, development in several Caribbean states is being affected by this reality.
I recently, explored with my Cabinet a number of additional initiatives that I felt were necessary to respond to the changing nature of crime in Guyana and the Region. I subsequently met with the commissioner of Police and his senior officers and we examined the current situation and explored the initiatives I had discussed at cabinet. I also held discussions with the Chief of Staff and our senior officers.
Some of these measures will have an immediate impact on the situation, while others will prepare our security forces for the medium term.
The initiatives discussed and agreed upon include:

1. $100M will be released immediately to the Guyana Police Force to improve its weaponry, protective equipment and gears, transportation and communication facilities. This is in addition to 2002 allocation. An identical sum of money will be allocated in 2003 and 2004 to upgrade weaponry and other equipment. Again, this will be in addition to the regular allocation to the police force’s capital budget. I have directed the Ministry of finance to make any necessary adjustments in our capital programme to respond to this national priority.

2. A comprehensive reform of the Intelligence sector to strengthen intelligence gathering to support the fight against crime, narco-trafficking and threats to internal security will be undertaken. This will be accompanied by improvements in the investigative capacity of the Criminal Investigations Department.

3. The establishment of a specialized training centre where police ranks and other law enforcement officers will be exposed, on a continuous basis, to modern anti-crime tactics and methods, especially on strategies, tactics and leadership. Particularly, training in the use of modern weapons will now be a feature of the standard training programme for all enforcement personnel.

4. A special “crime crack force,” along the line of a SWAT team will be set up to complement existing units. A large enough group of special trained and well-provided-for armed officers and ranks will form this crack force and will respond mainly to these new forms of criminal activities and acts of domestics terrorism.

5. A complete review of existing legislation on crime. This is tended to lead to the introduction of new laws and to toughen existing penalties for criminal activities, and to make prosecution and conviction of criminals easier.

6. Community Policing Group would benefit immediately from the creation of a dedicated unit within the office of the Commissioner of Police for which adequate funding would be provided for training, equipment and other resources.

7. Legislation would be introduced to provide for closer monitoring of certain categories of deportees

8. The issuance of gun licenses to qualified citizens will be speeded up, especially for the business community.

9. An enhanced welfare package for law enforcement personnel to provide for occupational risks. $20M will be immediately, placed in a fund to be controlled by the police force for the dependants of policemen and women who are killed in encounters with criminals. Additional, annual allocations would be made to this fund. $1M will be provided immediately to each of the families of the five law enforcement officers killed ion the recent crime wave.

A Task Force will oversee the implementation of the above measures.

The above does not and cannot cover the other operational issues and decisions being pursued by our hard-pressed security forces who are working around-the-clock to respond to the current crime situation.
Also, none of the above will infringe on the rights of our citizens, which are enshrined in our Constitution. I am also aware of concerns about the excessive use of force by our law enforcement officers. I have said before that we will continue to work with our law enforcement agencies to ensure maximum professional conduct as they fulfill their responsibility to the people of this country.
While no single measure or menu of measures can guarantee complete success over crime and criminal activities, I believe, nonetheless that at the national and CARICOM levels certain initiatives can have a positive impact on the situation in the short to medium term.
My administration has enlisted the support of civil society, the entire media landscape and the body politic in the fight against crime. Yesterday, I met with the Private sector Commission and we discussed ways in which the business community can contribute to an enhanced security for their homes, businesses and the society at large. I wish to thank them for their suggestions and support in this fight against crime.
My administration once again calls on Guyanese of all walks of life to
Unequivocally condemn criminals and those who provide support to criminal elements in our society.
In the coming days, my administration will continue to have regular engagements with civil society and other interested groups so as to facilitate their inputs into the anti-crime efforts, and to lend all possible support to our law enforcement men and women in discharging their constitutional duty.
My Administration shares the security concerns of our population. We sympathise with the victims of the current crime wave.
I wish I could assure citizens that there would be no more crime.
Unfortunately, neither I nor any other Head of state can do so. Nevertheless be assured that we are sparing no force, effort or resource to combat this scourge.
The fight against crime is my number one priority.