Gov’t satisfied with crime-fighting efforts – Harmon

By Devina Samaroo

State Minister Joseph Harmon said the government is satisfied with the police force’s crime-fighting efforts under the leadership of its Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan who recently complained about having a “bad month” with police officers.

Harmon, when asked if the government is satisfied with how the Minister is managing the crime situation, responded in the affirmative, noting that officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have undergone a series of training to enhance their skills.

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), however, said the Ministry of Public Security needs to “intensify” its efforts regarding security.

But Minister Harmon, who is an executive member of the PNC/R, indicated that the government and the PNCR are separate bodies and therefore may share different views on various issues.

“The Party and the government are two separate entities. I am saying to you, that the government is satisfied,” he stated.

When asked if the Party is not, Harmon said “you have to deal with the statement made by the party; I am making a statement on behalf of the government.”

The State Minister spoke at length about the training the police officers have undergone and the improvements they have made in solving crimes.

He noted that the issue sometimes lies where residents are protecting criminals and he called on them to cooperate with the police to help in the national crime-fighting efforts.

Meanwhile, the PNC/R’s Georgetown District’s Executive Committee, in a statement Thursday, said it was “appalled and saddened” by the death of Constance Fraser and Phyllis Ceaser who, from all indications had been the victims of a robbery and brutal murder at their South Road, Georgetown home.

“It is regrettable that we have lost all Sanity of Community life. Our women and more recently our elderly have become wanton targets of domestic abuse and violence. This relentless destruction of lives cannot continue unabated. As leaders of organizations, communities and families, it is incumbent upon us to collectively pool our efforts and resources to combat this present scourge of violence present in our society,” the PNC/R said.

It also called for the Ministry of Public Security to do better with its crime-fighting efforts.

“The Georgetown District’s Executive Committee is also calling upon the Ministry of Public Security and the Judiciary to intensify their actions regarding security and for the Judiciary to impose stiffer penalties for violence committed crimes,” the PNC/R said.