Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana Riding on the Crest of Truth
Last Updated on Monday, 14 March 2016, 17:06 by Denis Chabrol
The Guyana Police Force on Monday released statistics in relation to the offences of murder and robbery under arms at the end of February 2016 with corresponding statistics for the same period in 2015 are attached.
Among the serious crimes policed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.
At the end of February 2016 the Guyana Police Force recorded a 12% decrease in serious crimes in comparison to the same period in 2015, as the Force continues to place emphasis on intelligence led policing, capacity building of the Criminal Investigation Department, its social crime prevention programme and enhancing police community relations. A 6% decrease in serious crimes had been recorded at the end of January.
A total of 25 murders were recorded at the end of February 2016, which was the similar number at the end of February 2015. Of the 25 murders at the end of February this year 9 were committed during robberies, 5 were domestic related, 10 were of the disorderly type, and 1 is so far undetermined.
Four (4) murders have been recorded so for March 2016.
At the end of February 2016 robbery under arms overall has decreased by 4% in comparison to the same period in 2015. The statistics indicate a decrease of 9% in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; while there was a 4% increase in relation to the number of armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators.
The statistics have revealed that there has been a decrease of 13% in the number of reports of rape, with 48 reports at the end of February this year compared to 55 for the same period last year.
Break and Enter and Larceny and Burglary have shown an overall decrease of 11%. There has been a 17% reduction in Break and Enter and Larceny, by itself.
At the end of February this year, a total of 10 illegal firearms have been recovered by the police comprising 5 pistols and 4 revolvers and 1 shotgun.
In relation to domestic violence, at the end of February 2016 a total of 473 reports were made from which 311 cases resulted.
During February this year, a number of persons have been charged for serious crimes following investigations by the Police. These include Ron Morris of Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara, for trafficking in narcotics; Mark Calvan of Pike Street, North Sophia, Leyland Archer of Pattensen, East Coast Demerara, and Troy Thomas of Patentia, West Bank Demerara for the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition; Ganga Kishna of North Road, Bourda, and Aviskar Bissoon of Enachu and Sheriff Streets, Georgetown, for murder; Saiad Khan of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, Hale Forrester of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, Affiba Yankana of Hadfield Street, Georgetown, Shun De Santos of East La Penitence, Georgetown, Joshua Joseph of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Kester McPhoy of Independence Boulevard, Georgetown, and Christopher Niles of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, for separate incidents of robbery under arms; and Colin Bailey of Vryheid Lust, East Coast Demerara, Sonia King of Parafaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, and Trudy Samuels of Santa Mission, Upper Demerara River for separate incidents of murder.
The Police Force is continuing in its efforts aimed at crime prevention through its police-community partnership programme along with social crime prevention interventions in the Policing Divisions, with special emphasis on empowering youths, such as the Impact Albouystown Project and Police Youth Clubs. Meaningful support in this regard continues to be given by members of the religious community attached to the Cops and Faith Community Network.
During the month of February 2016 another aspect of the Police Force’s Community Outreach thrust saw students and teachers from several schools, along with parents in some instances, being accommodated with visits to Police Headquarters mainly to the Police John Campbell Museum, the Police Band Room, Mounted Branch, Canine Section and Traffic Headquarters.
A total of some one hundred and seventy nine students and teachers from the Mahaicony Secondary School and the Calcutta Nursery School visited Force Headquarters where they were facilitated by ranks of the Police Public Relations Department and interacted with members of the Police Force attached to the various departments.
The Police Force participated in the President’s College Career Fair where an Exhibition Booth was established and ranks from the Police Narcotics Unit, Crime Scene Unit, Traffic, Immigration, the Police Military Band and the Felix Austin Police College highlighted the development of the various areas to the enthusiastic students.
Divisional Commanders also continued with community outreach programmes in their respective Police Division with the aim of fostering better relationships with the community, among others.
As a consequence, in “B” Division (Berbice) footwear and other personal effects were distributed to residents of the Hugo Chavez Home at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice; a number of household items were donated to a family that had recently lost their home to a fire at No. 69 Village, Corentyne; a quantity of cricket gears was presented to twelve-year-old Isaiah King who is an aspiring young cricketer; and ranks along with members of the community were involved in environmental cleaning in the Number 76 Village Housing Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice, and
the compound of the St. Micheal Anglican Church at Hopetown, West Coast Berbice.
In “D” Division (West Demerara/East Bank Essequibo) the police donated a television set, a quantity of floor tiles, steel rods and a number of books for the construction of a library at the Parfaite Harmonie Primary School, West Bank Demerara, and collaborated with the Regional Administration to make workers available for the laying of the tiles. Upon completion of the project a computer and printer will be presented to the school to assist in the administration of the library.
In “E” Division (Linden/Kwakwani) ranks of the Mabura Police Station in collaboration with officials of Demerara Timbers Limited sponsored a cricket competition between residents of Mabura and the community of Fifty-Eight Miles, Linden; the Central Amelia’s Ward Police Youth Club was resuscitated; and Suicide Prevention Walks were held in collaboration with the House of Prayer Church of Linden, the ‘Lester and Friends’ Organisation and the Police Linden Scout Group around Mackenzie and Wismar, Linden.
In “G” Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands) Commissioner of Police Mr. Seelall Persaud, DSM, held a meeting with residents of the Affiance Village community at the Affiance Sports Ground where, among other issues, the discussions focused on the construction of a pavilion on the sports ground as a joint venture among the police and businessmen and other members of the community.
During February 2016 there was a total of nine (9) interventions supported by the religious community in the Cops and Faith Community Network which treats with juvenile first offenders for minor crimes as a preemptive intervention to the New Opportunity Corps.
Since the launch of the Cops and Faith Community Network in September 2013 and unto February 29, 2016, there has been a total of 272 such interventions. In all cases the youths were counseled by the religious leaders and following the involvement of parents/guardians, and the victims where necessary, the majority of them were warned and sent away.
In relation to the Family Liaison for victims of serious crimes and domestic violence project, which is also under the Cops and Faith Community Network, there were fifteen (15) interventions by members of the religious community in response to attempt suicide and cases of serious crimes including arson, armed robbery and murder where the affected persons, victims and relatives, accordingly, were counseled.
In relation to traffic, 17 road fatalities from 17 accidents have been recorded at the end of February 2016, in comparison to 19 fatalities from 12 accidents for the same period in 2015, a decrease of 11%. One child has died as a result of a traffic accident unto the end of February this year, compared to 7 for the same period last year. There have been decreases in the other categories of traffic accidents comprising serious, minor and damage.
Pedestrians has been the main category of road users affected so far in road fatalities with 5 such persons having lost their lives at the end of February 2016. In addition 3 pedal cyclists, 3 motor cyclists, 4 drivers, 1 passenger in a motor vehicle and 1 pillion rider also lost their lives.
Speeding has been the major contributory factor to fatal accidents, having been the cause of 10 of the 17 fatal accidents at the end of February 2016.
Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 11,783 cases for this year being made against errant motorists at the end of February 2016. Of this total 4,080 cases were for speeding, 442 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 130 for using cell phone while driving and 379 for failing to wear seat belt.
Up to yesterday, Sunday March 13, 2016, a total of 6 more persons had lost their lives from 6 fatal accidents.
The Traffic Department has intensified its enforcement activities with special focus on speeding and driving under the influence, driving motor cycles without safety helmets and using cell phones while driving a motor vehicle.