Govt begins crafting anti-crime strategy

Last Updated on Tuesday, 7 July 2015, 21:30 by GxMedia

Government and top security chiefs on Tuesday began hammering out a “strategic crime fighting approach” to deal with the recent spike in gun crimes that have left more than one dozen persons dead for the year.

“The clear message coming out of this initial meeting is that the Administration intends to move swiftly and vigorously to arrest violent crime in Guyana,” said the Ministry of the Presidency in a statement.

The ministry added that the high-level meeting formed part of “initial discussions for the development of a broad base strategic crime fighting approach that will deliver short and long term goals.”

The meeting was convened by President David Granger and included and the talks were conducted with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally, Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Colonel Khemraj Persaud.

The President’s office appeared tight-lipped about the talk, saying that disclosures to the public would be made shortly as the Government intensifies its efforts to tackle the escalating crime situation.

At least 18 persons have been killed, several others injured and millions of dollars in cash and jewellery stolen for the year.