PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday promised that no budgetary resource will be spared to boost the local law enforcement agencies in an effort to ensure that Guyanese are secure in their homes and communities.

Noting that national security is first on the agenda of the Government, the President stated that "whatever it takes" must be spent to ensure that people are safe in the country.

"We must recruit more Policemen. We must train our people and Policemen to handle any type of situation. There must be improvement in our investigative work and our intelligence. We must have better weaponry and protective gear," President Jagdeo declared to a gathering at the Sophia Exhibition Site, Georgetown, for the opening of Guyana's trade and investment exposition, GUYEXPO 2002.

Commenting on the "senseless violence" which shocked Georgetown residents Wednesday night, President Jagdeo said it goes back to some extent to people's values which have to be changed "because when people can so callously take the lives of others without showing any remorse, then it speaks a lot of our society..."

Four persons, including a woman, were shot dead and several others wounded Wednesday night when gunmen emerged from a car and opened fire on patrons at the popular 'Nathoo' bar and business place at Pike and Lamaha Streets, Kitty, Georgetown.

Following the killings, President Jagdeo had convened an emergency security meeting with the top brass of the Police and Army, Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Ronald Gajraj and Secretary to the Defence Board, Dr. Roger Luncheon.

The President yesterday said he has already made a commitment to the Police that the Government is going to make sure that there are other types of equipment to modernise their crime fighting capabilities, including armoured cars and maybe helicopters.

He added, "we must ensure that we pass tougher legislation," and noted that the Government had tabled in Parliament four pieces of anti-crime legislation - Prevention of Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2002, Criminal Law (Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2002, Racial Hostility (Amendment) Bill 2002, and Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2002 - Bill.

Among the proposed amendments, the Government is seeking to increase penalties for criminal offences and to broaden the scope of evidence that could be presented in court, including video tapes and data embodied in various other types of equipment and monitoring of deportees with criminal records.

However, there have been objections to the Bills in some quarters and the President said it bothers him that at times everyone agree that national security is top priority and call on the Government to take a tighter grip on the crime situation, and yet complain when the Government tries to take action.

"...as soon as we have tough legislative action to support our law enforcement agencies, the same people turn around and complain about the human rights of the criminals and they are not worrying about the human rights of the victims. It bothers me a lot because these are the same people who have been calling for tough legislative action," he stated.

He said the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) will continue to support the work of the Police in upholding the laws of the country though people are again objecting to the work that the GDF is doing in support of the law enforcement agencies.

He stated, "It is all legal, it is provided for by our laws and the GDF will continue to play that supportive role in the future."

"We are going to have to strengthen our collaborative efforts with the private security forces. We have to get our citizens more involved in the crime fighting activities. We must train them and equip our citizens so that they can support our law enforcement agencies," President Jagdeo said.

He, however, added that while these are all important issues and at the top of the agenda, he cannot promise total success and a totally crime free society.

He assured that all steps necessary will be taken to ensure that this is given priority attention.

The President said that all have to play a role in the fight, including churches and families.

"People have to work with their children to inculcate a different type of values. The citizens of the country have to speak out angrily about the various attempts we see on a daily basis to divide our people. We must not make them succeed."

He told the gathering, including other Government officials, diplomats, and dignitaries that as they visit the booths at the exhibition, they should observe the journey Guyana has embarked upon in search of modernisation and development.

"I would want you to note the technological skills and the imagination of our entrepreneurs. I want to commend their boldness in the face of global challenges and the socially unacceptable behaviour locally."

The President pointed out that it is an undeniable fact that political stability and good order are absolute requirements for national development, noting that while there have been some developments, it would be difficult for the society to make rapid progress and motivate its people if they are compelled to worry about security of their property and person.