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NEW AMSTERDAM, BERBICE – Commander of Division ‘B’ of the Guyana Police Force, Assistant Commissioner Steve Merai is assuring Berbicians that crime is on the decrease.But many residents are of the perception that this is not so. Fresh on residents’ minds are the recent incidents that unraveled.On May 9, the charred remains of taxi driver, Roy Persaud, was found in a car trunk at Palmyra in East Canje. The man was said to be missing two days before the discovery.On May 17,china jerseys, 47-year-old Arjune Gobin, a security guard attached to Nand Persaud and Company Limited of Number Thirty-six Village, Corentyne, was reportedly shot by bandits, in what was intended to be an early morning robbery at the home of businessman Surendra Ganesh of Wellington Park on the Corentyne.During the drama, bandits discharged rounds at different sections of the house, used sledge hammers and punched a hole in the wall to gain entry. No member of that household was injured and only a small amount of cash was said to be stolen.Surendra Ganesh is the proprietor of Ganesh Service Station which is situated between his home and his NPG Packaging and Plastic Limited business on the Wellington Park Public Road.Last Monday, 58-year-old businessman Maurice Sookraj of Lot 23 Betsy Ground was robbed at gunpoint about 07:30 hours of $150,000 and other articles. Moments later a sawn-off 12 gauge shotgun, 18 cartridges, two toque masks with eye holes, a Rambo knife, a crow bar, a computer monitor and a keyboard were allegedly found at a home in Betsy Ground along with three pounds of what was suspected to be cannabis sativa.Some of the items are believed to be those stolen from Maurice Sookraj. A few days later police gunned down wanted man, 40-year old David McPherson,cheap jerseys cc, called ‘Colonel’ of Betsy Ground, East Canje. On the day of the robbery, the ‘Colonel’ successfully managed to escape a police dragnet.On Thursday, the body of taxi driver, 27-year-old Trevor Kissoon, of 25 Alexander Street, New Amsterdam was found in a canal at Number Seven Village.The J&N Taxi Service employee was dispatched to locate a passenger at the Canje Turn just after 23:00 hours on Wednesday.On Thursday,nfl jerseys china, about 11:15hrs police received a telephone call from a resident in the area informing them that a body was in the canal. There were wounds to the head and one above the right eye, which from initial investigation appear to come from being struck with a blunt object. The victim was driving a silver-coloured Carina 212, HB 7489,wholesale nfl jerseys, which has not been recovered.For this year alone, millions of dollars worth of what is suspected to be compressed cannabis sativa, cannabis sativa plants and proceeds purchased through ill-gotten gains were seized by police.Commander Merai posited that his statements are based on statistics recorded and not assumptions. According to him,jerseys from china, when the data for 2010 is placed alongside that of 2009, there is a drop in almost every category.Though actual figures were not presented to the Kaieteur News, he said robbery under arms and burglary recorded fewer reports in 2010 while break and enter and homicides have increased, “Our figures are showing we are way below last year’s figure. Overall,cheap nfl china jerseys, so far, we are down by almost ten percent as compared to last year.”However,wholesale jerseys china, to ensure that a tight leash is kept on those with criminal intent, the populace has a role to play.“We cannot do it alone. We need the help of the public. We need more info from the Community Policing Groups. We need more effort from the Neighbourhood Police people.”There are instances where the public may have information but never pass it on to police out of fear or distrust. This situation also exists among police ranks.“Some of them may have information and keep quiet.”The Commander alluded to the fact that many of the ranks were born and bred in Berbice and in isolated cases some may have ties to criminal elements.“They got either a direct or indirect relation and this is hindering the field of work. The Commissioner has already agreed…a decision was taken at our last conference that ranks must be rotated from one Division to another.”But switching ranks would also have disadvantages since it is not always the ranks with unblemished records who would be transferred. Already two ranks were sent packing out of Division ‘B’ and 10 more particularly from the criminal investigation and traffic are on the list. “One or two of the senior ranks would be on the same list.”Commander Merai is working towards more intelligence led policing to stay on top of the game, but this at present is somewhat slow.“You (are) looking at human rights, you (are) looking at allegations. I am concerned about allegations made against the police. I don’t want that to happen here (Division ‘B’).”Another concern is the sluggish manner in which a few ranks handle reports and some not being taken seriously.“We’re getting a few reports of negative behaviour. We’ve got to constantly call them in and deal with them.”Assistant Commissioner Merai noted that currently, just over 30 recruits, all of whom are not Berbicians, are undergoing training at the Felix Austin Police College ‘B’ Division at Adventure on the Corentyne. This batch is to pass out next month.He opined that this may help the intelligence gathering process in some way since they are not yet known to Berbicians.Generally, in order to achieve a reduced crime rate, Division ‘B’ stepped up patrols in strategic locations, especially ones which appear to be easy targets for those with criminal intent.More ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department are also out on the streets. At weekends foot and mobile patrols are beefed up. |
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