Gov’t to blame for slaughter of police, businessman
-PNCR’s Khan
Stabroek News
January 25, 2003
The PNCR says the continuing crime wave and killings of police officers and businessmen especially of Indian descent, must be laid squarely at the feet of the ruling PPP/C administration.
Addressing reporters at the party’s weekly press conference on Thursday, Reform Chairman and PNCR Member of parliament, Jerome Khan said, “The security forces are stretched to their limit and despite the stupid and sadistic acts of some who continue to commit acts of extra-judicial killing with impunity, the GPF and the Guyana Defence Force must be recognised and commended for holding together a very fragile and volatile situation.”
According to the PNCR the scenes of innocent people being shot in their homes or as bystanders are unbearable. “The phenomenon of persons abandoning their homes on the East Coast is chilling and warns of a much more serious consequence which must be averted. We empathise and sympathise with all those who continue to suffer the loss of loved ones, whether at the hands of policeman gone mad or by a bandit, without care or consideration for the value of human life.” Some villagers abandoned their homes on the East Coast following relentless attacks by gangs from Buxton/Friendship.
Khan said ultimately, the responsibility to provide a secure and comfortable Guyana in which the citizens can flourish is that of the government.
He noted that the party is not ignorant of the fact the break down in normal parliamentary relations between the government and the opposition parties is having concomitant consequences and affects such as those recently alluded to by the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Desiree Bernard.
“The blame should be cast squarely at the feet of the ruling party, which has undermined the constitution, the Judiciary, the Police Force and consequently, the state of Guyana.”
He asked why no management committee of parliament had been established since it was agreed that this was an urgent need in the St Lucia Statement in 1998. In addition, Khan mentioned that the recently legislated anti-crime acts have proven incapable of stemming the tide of criminal activity. “It is passing strange that the recent discovery of a large cache of arms at Good Hope did not lead to the institution of charges under the relevant sections of the acts.”
Khan observed that Amnesty International has recognised the draconian nature of the legislation and has joined the chorus for their repeal”.
