Readers' Response

Dear Editor:
No government can rule effectively if crime is running rampant in the country. The economy suffers; commerce suffers and most importantly, citizens live in fear for the safety of themselves and their families. The security of Guyana is both urgent and imperative, so I offer the following proposal to the Government for consideration, and urge my critics with better ideas to do the same:
1. Introduce a ‘Buy-Back” programme for firearms – no questions asked. Anyone can turn in a gun at any police station without fear of being arrested, or being asked for their name and address or where the weapon was obtained.
This programme is done on a regular basis in New York very successfully. An amount of $20,000.00 (US$100.00) can be offered for every working gun turned in, and $10,000.00 for every gun turned in that does not work.
A defective gun can be used very effectively to commit a crime, for when a victim stares down the barrel of a gun there is no way to determine whether or not the gun works.
The Commissioner of Police should make it known that after the Buy-Back Programme has ended, an aggressive campaign will be launched by law enforcement to go after those guns not turned in, with mandatory prison time for those caught with illegal firearms, working or not.
Local businessmen/women can be persuaded to get involved through sponsorship, because the more guns that are taken off the streets, the safer their businesses become. And to prove my confidence in this campaign, I will personally contribute $100,000.00 if implemented.
2. Offer a one-month conditional amnesty to hard-core criminals wanted by the police for crimes committed such as murder; aggravated assault; armed robbery and rape. Depending on the severity of the crime committed, felons will qualify for a substantial reduction in sentence by surrendering to the police. While in prison, they, and other prisoners, will have to undertake mandatory counseling geared at rehabilitation, which will help re-establish the prisoners back into society; giving them hope and the opportunity for a new life. Upon their release from prison, they would be placed on supervised probation with electronic monitoring for 3-5 years. If probation is violated, they would be re-arrested to complete the full term of their sentence.
Here is the logic behind this: To put it simply, deadly criminals would be taken off the streets, resulting in a reduction in murders and other brutal crimes, making communities much safer. Anyone who commits murder in Guyana, knows that if found guilty, he is likely to be sentenced to life in prison. And if he chooses to run from the law, he is likely to be killed in a confrontation with the police. With this in mind, he becomes even more desperate and ruthless because he cannot see a way out of the dilemma he puts himself in. He is void of hope… so he stays on the run as long as he can, committing crimes along the way to survive with little or no respect for another human life. But if given an opportunity to wipe his slate clean after spending a few years in prison to return to live a normal life with his family in freedom, I feel sure that most criminals on the run would choose this option. Give them hope.
3. Very stringent laws must be introduced and enforced to deter crime, especially race crimes; rape and the sexual abuse of children; and crimes committed against tourists.
4. Intensify patrols along the borders with Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela, to prevent the flow of illegal substance and weapons into the country. Special care must be taken to properly screen army and police personnel for specialised, advanced training, to guard against members of these highly trained drug enforcement task force from turning rogue.
5. The image of the Guyana Police Force must undergo a complete metamorphosis. In this regard, I suggest the following: Drop “Force” from the name: Guyana Police Force, and let the service be know simple as The Guyana Police or The Guyana Police Department. The Guyana Police must interact more with the public. They should conduct yearly lectures at schools in all communities, targeting both children and parents. Discuss the need to rise above poverty and avoid a career of crime through education; the dangers of using drugs, alcohol and cigarettes; and challenge the parents to be good citizens, to set the right examples for their kids to follow, and to create an environment conducive to producing the next generation of leaders.
With violent crime under control, here are some of the benefits:
• All Guyanese will feel a lot safer; in their homes and on the streets • Tension will be reduced among Blacks and Indians, paving the way for a more harmonious coexistence between the two races • Tourism will flourish • More Guyanese living abroad will return home. Some will even take advantage of investment opportunities here • Foreign Investors will find renewed interest in Guyana • The economy will improve significantly • Guyana’s image abroad will be vastly improved • The Administration can now divert their full attention and resources to reducing domestic violence, prostitution, internet and low level crimes • Our national pride will return • The political party that achieves this goal will be favourably remembered for many elections yet to come.
Harry Gill, via email