Back to Press Page

27TH SEPTEMBER 2005
MEDIA RELEASE
PSC IS SATISFIED THAT THE JOINT FORCES OPERATION IN BUXTON
WAS FULLY JUSTIFIED

The Private Sector Commission commends the combined operation of the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force in the area of Buxton and neighbouring villages.

The Commission, after careful examination of all of the facts at its disposal, is satisfied that the specific focus and objective of the joint forces operation was fully justified.

At a Workshop on Crime hosted by the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA) on 4th October, 2005, which was addressed by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Winston Felix, and Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Henry Greene, and attended by His Excellency, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin, we found a general consensus in support of an all out effort to confront and eliminate organized crime and to restore confidence in the functioning of the criminal justice system in our country.

We also found a general consensus that the maintenance of law and order is a national responsibility and should be approached on a bipartisan basis and commend this approach to all of our political parties. We urge them to work together in support of the law enforcement arms of the state.

The Commission continues to be concerned that the great majority of the people of Buxton and neighbouring villages have become the victims of and, indeed, the target of organized crime in their area and have, as a result, had their lives horribly disrupted.

The Commission urges that the security forces, as far as the exigencies of the situation permit, make every effort to observe and respect the human rights and civil liberties of all citizens, while pursuing their determination to free Buxton and its surrounding neighbourhoods from being held hostage to organized crime.

The Commission looks forward to a sustained and unrelenting campaign being maintained to uphold and enforce the rule of law in our society until every form of organized crime, wherever and however it has become entrenched, is confronted. The Commission will do everything within its power to support our law enforcement agencies in this endeavour.