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17TH AUGUST 2006
MEDIA RELEASE
PSC COMMENDS SECURITY FORCES

The Private Sector Commission commends the members of the Joint Security Services who bravely risked their lives, following the attack on the two commercial banks in Rose Hall, to pursue and engage the gangs of vicious criminals who fled into the Canje backlands and who continue to prey upon our society.

The recent action by the Security Services in successfully pursuing and engaging the fleeing criminals is more than a welcome departure from what the nation has unfortunately come to expect.

The arrest last Friday of Jermaine Charles (Skinny) wanted by the Police in connection with the murders of Agriculture Minister Satyadeow Sawh, his siblings and his security guard as well as the murders of the five Kaieteur News pressmen and another person at Bagotstown, signals a significantly different approach from the past.

The success of the Police and Defence Force in these areas has given the nation hope. It has established the capability of our Security Forces to confront and overcome this criminal enterprise when led by a determined and committed command.

We note with satisfaction that four of the AK-47 rifles stolen from the Guyana Defence Force have been recovered but we cannot ignore the fact that 29 of these dangerous weapons remain in the possession of criminals bent on destabilising the country and who are still on the loose on the eve of General Elections.

We urge the Security Forces to renew their efforts to capture these criminals and find the weapons. We continue, however, to wait for the Guyana Defence Force to prosecute those members of the Force who had responsibility for the security of these weapons.

The introduction of a redesigned 911 emergency call-in phone system, as a result of the collaboration between the Police Force and GT&T provides a welcome assurance that a citizen seeking emergency help can do so in anticipation that there can be a prompt response from the Police. We urge every citizen in need to use the system.