Guyana likely to join Crime Stoppers programme August
Guyana Chronicle
February 20, 2007
THE government anticipates that Guyana will be able to implement the ‘Crime Stoppers’ programme by August, as it continues to make good on its promise to improve security.
In the process, this country will join other Caribbean countries to combat crime through effective collaboration among the community, the media and the Police, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
“Members of the steering committee met recently to continue their discussions on the right time for the implementation, so we are working assiduously to establish this programme,” Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee told GINA.
He reported that, on February 15, the steering committee discussed issues on the constitution of it and examined the merits and criteria for appointing persons to serve on the ‘Crime Stoppers’ board.
Rohee said the committee is tasked with examining the functions and characteristics of ‘Crime Stoppers International’ and advise on the appropriate date for the local launch.
The committee is also in discussion with Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T) for the provision of special lines for the purpose.
‘Crime Stoppers’ is part of a wider scheme to fight crime and other initiatives include a Citizens’ Security Programme, with the intention of restructuring the Police Force, Neighbourhood and Community Policing, GINA stated.
The Citizens’ Security Programme facilitates the passage of information regarding criminal activity from citizens to the Police, based on anonymity and it has been successful in reducing and preventing crime worldwide, GINA said.
According to GINA, it works on three components, the community, the media and the Police, with residents being the foundation and the media assisting to highlight unsolved crimes and regularly promoting the special Crime Stoppers telephone numbers.
GINA said there are about 1,200 Crime Stoppers programmes in 20 countries, among them the United States, Australia, South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom and Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean.
How it works
If you witness or know about a crime, a 1-800 toll-free number will be made available for you to call and you will never be required to provide your name, or testify in court.
A secret code number will be given you at the time you report the crime and it would be the basis on which you identify yourself.
You will then be given a time period in which to follow-up on the actions taken, based on the information you provided and the reward you receive will depend on the level of action taken, such as an arrest or conviction, or the amount of items seized and their value.
The reward would then be handed over to you by a bank manager at a location of your choice, with you only being required to provide your code number, GINA explained.
Good Hope squatters getting financial aid to relocate
THE government is now offering monetary assistance to about 26 families who are squatting on the Good Hope sea defence reserve.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said the financial aid is a further encouragement to ensure they relocate to Grassfield, Lusignan, also on East Coast Demerara.
GINA said Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Harry Narine Nawbatt, on behalf of President Bharrat Jagdeo, recently met the intended beneficiaries and informed them of their new allocation.
During the interaction, the agency said, the residents had indicated their concerns and reservations about their impending move, including funding constraints and those issues were discussed with the Head of State, who agreed to offer each family $150,000.
However, Minister Nawbatt pointed out that the help would be made available only after the ministry is satisfied that the recipients have relocated and he paid a follow-up visit on February 10 to notify them about the impending deal.
GINA said he also set the deadline for their relocation as March 31 and they expressed satisfaction and promised to comply.
Representatives of about 30 families who were occupying the squatter settlement had previously met President Jagdeo at the Office of the President in 2005, after an informal meeting with them during his walkabout in the area aback of the ‘Tropical Woods’ processing facility at Good Hope, GINA said.
GINA said President Jagdeo negotiated with Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) for the land on which the squatters are to settle and roads have already been built at Grassfield while pipelines are being laid ahead of other infrastructure.