Gov’t working to eradicate lawlessness, gun crimes

– Minister Benn

Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Robeson Benn says the Government is working to eradicate lawlessness. The Minister was at the time responding to a question posed by the media about concerns from the public on the return of execution style killings in Guyana.

The question was in relation to the recent execution-style killing of 42-year-old, Mr. Ricardo Fagundes on Main Street, Georgetown.

“I want to assure the public that we are working hard to eradicate lawlessness and particularly gun crimes in Guyana, and crimes of that sort. We are working hard with it. We are reviewing the posture, the procedures, the actions which should happen when there is such an event so that we mitigate, prevent and deal with those who would get involved in that type of activity,” Minister Benn said.

The engagement with the media occurred on the side-lines of theopening of the Guyana Fire Service Senior Officers Conference on Thursday.  

Government, in the last two national budgets allocated billions of dollars to bolster the country’s crime fighting capability. In the 2020 Emergency Budget, over $1 billion was allocated for the modernisation of several police stations and divisional headquarters countrywide. Added to that, some $428.1 million was earmarked for the procurement of 50 vehicles to ensure police officers could respond to crimes in a timely manner.

Meanwhile, $830 million has been allocated in the 2021 National Budget for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Providence, Ruimveldt, Cove and John, Albion, Whim, Parika and Wismar police stations, among others. Additionally, 828 police ranks will undergo training in 20 different courses to improve their investigative and forensic capabilities. The Government is also resuscitating the Community Policing Groups (CPGs) countrywide with $95 million allotted to them to strengthen neighbourhood patrols and visibility. Minister Benn in November 2020 said CPGs play a key role in fighting crime.