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Guyana has been plagued by a public security crisis, mainly on the East Coast of Demerara, over the past 10 years, a state of affairs which has effectively derailed various forms of development.This observation was made on Friday by Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Brigadier (ret.) David Granger, who noted that the security dilemma became particularly evident during the regime of former President Bharrat Jagdeo.In fact, according to Granger, during that period of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)’s rule there was a surge in contraband smuggling and narco-trafficking.“It is fair to say that the public security concerns have been uppermost in people’s minds…The increasing number of murders, the increased banditry in the hinterland and lawlessness generally; the increase of piracy and the increased extrajudicial executions on the part of the police and executions by narco-traffickers have all been matters of gravest concern,” Granger noted.In its quest to help arrest the situation, he said that the PNCR had sought to engage the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) first under the leadership of former President Desmond Hoyte and subsequently former Opposition Leader Robert Corbin,Cheap NFL Jerseys, to deal with certain issues which came out of the Herdmanston Accord.Signed in Guyana on January 17,Cheap NFL Jerseys, 1998, the Herdmanston Accord was brokered by Caricom as a peace agreement between Government and the Opposition with the aim of addressing issues relating to human development, public security and depressed communities. According to Granger, it was expected that that this agreement would have allowed for the establishment of a Disciplined Forces Commission intended to tackle the public security threat.Greatest AchievementGranger’s articulation was forthcoming as he addressed a press conference at his party’s Congress Place Sophia,NFL Jerseys China, Georgetown headquarters. He was at the time highlighting the achievements of the party, future plans and the agenda for a month-long celebration of the party’s 55th year of existence. The PNCR was established on October 5, 1957, by former Executive President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.Having credited his party with a number of achievements, particularly in the area of education, Granger pointed out that his party’s main thrust of the last decade has been to ensure safety of citizens and to protect human development.Achieving this particular goal,China Jerseys Wholesale, he said, has been a struggle for the PPP/C administration,Cheap China Jerseys, as this remains a concern that affects normal citizens’ everyday lives.He pointed out that it was the PNCR that led the protest against extrajudicial killings by police and executions that were being undertaken by drug lords. It was the party’s efforts, he said, that stirred civil society into action and started public protest. It was as a result of that groundswell, he asserted, that the United States Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report and other reports of human rights abuses had stirred opposition to the Government of Guyana.Granger emphasised that the PNCR headed up the Joint Opposition Political Parties (JOPP) which pioneered the publishing of a dossier which was sent to international agencies. And it was on the basis of that document,Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic, he insisted,Cheap China Jerseys, that other international bodies were motivated to move against the criminals of this country.Future PlansAs far as the future is concerned, Granger said that the PNCR, which currently exists under the umbrella of A Partnership for National Unity, is poised to take the lead to ensure that safety and security is restored. He revealed that over the last six months the party has been advocating for public safety and security following the July 18 killings in Linden.“We were the ones who called for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry and we were the ones who brought the motion for the removal of Mr Clement Rohee from his portfolio as Minister of Home Affairs.”According to Granger, the party will remain resolute in its stance for public security, adding that “we will continue to take strong lines until our people are safe. We took strong lines on the execution of young Shaquille Grant in Agricola…”Public security, he added, is important since it involves human safety which is one of the main concerns of the party.As a result, Granger said that “we will continue to lead the way in the National Assembly and outside of the National Assembly to ensure that our people are safe and ensure that drug lords are punished, and to ensure that the country’s security sector is properly administered.” |
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