Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 02, 2016 Letters
Dear Editor,
What the leader of a country says is often taken very seriously. In the hours leading up to Donald Trump’s historic victory in the US Presidential Elections, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 827 points. The S&P 500 was down 107 points. The technology heavy Nasdaq 100 had fallen 241 points and similarly, stock markets in Europe, Japan and other countries dropped sharply as investors come to grips with what President Trump means for trade and global growth. Because of this, political leaders should always be aware that irresponsible rhetoric has real consequences.
Of late, we have been getting conflicting reports from this Administration on the status of crime in Guyana. On July 9, Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum announced a record 20 percent reduction in serious crime. Then statistics released on August 8 by the Guyana Police Force show a 9 percent decrease in gun-related robberies; a 12 percent decrease in armed robberies; a 22 percent decrease in robberies with violence; a 17 percent decrease in rape; and a 21 percent decrease in break & enter and larceny. Burglary was also reportedly down by 15 percent, and larceny by 35 percent. But despite these figures, the public remains very skeptical, and questions the accuracy of these reports. In fact, the perception is that crime is very much on the increase, and it would appear that President Granger shares this concern.
On Thursday, November 10, the day after the home of former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee was robbed by bandits, President Granger in his weekly TV interview, “The Public Interest”, had this to say, “I am suspicious that there are some persons who are committing crimes to show that the Police Force and Government are weak. We don’t know for sure what is taking place, but many of these crimes have their origin in the weakening of the Police Force in the early days, and so we have a very serious problem on our hands.”
Unfortunately Mr. Editor, the President is part of the serious problem he alluded to. In May 2015, just after APNU+AFC ascended to power, a compassionate President Granger announced that his government will grant presidential pardons every year to prisoners sentenced for “minor misdemeanors”. He then released 60 convicts back into society… some of whom have since committed serious crimes for which they have been convicted and sent back to jail. To date, despite several appeals from the PPP/C and members of the private sector, the government has refused to release the names of the pardoned convicts and the nature of crimes they commit. Again last December, Granger pardoned 11 female prison inmates so that they can “spend Christmas with their families.” We still don’t know the names of these convicts and the nature of the crimes they committed. But my source revealed some to be hard-core criminals, hence the reason for not releasing the list of names.
With Christmas approaching, Granger is expected to pardon and release more prisoners. But without programmes to adequately rehabilitate these inmates back into society and jobs to provide employment after they have been released, it wouldn’t be long before most are tempted to prey on Christmas shoppers during the holidays, and end up back in the slammer, hopefully before someone gets killed. The President has created a revolving door that emboldens and rewards criminals who are now hopeful of being freed when incarcerated by a presidential pardon.
“I don’t believe that somebody should be damned forever for stealing a cell phone. There’s a trail that would stay with that person whenever he or she applies for a job. I do believe in forgiveness,” President Granger.
While a cell phone may be viewed by Granger as a misdemeanor undeserving of jail-time, it is an invasion of privacy to the victim.
When my iPhone and gold chain were stolen during Christmas of 2013 in the vicinity of Stabroek Market by two young bandits, one of whom was shot and killed five months later in front of New Thriving Restaurant by an employee of a private security firm, I felt violated. A criminal had access to my personal information, passwords to my various accounts, photographs and confidential phone numbers that were stored in the stolen iPhone. Sadly from all reports, the teenaged bandit that stole my iPhone had graduated to stealing half-a-million dollars when he met his demise, something I predicted would happen. Now whenever there is a need for me to walk in Georgetown, I live in fear of being mugged. The theft of a cell phone may be a misdemeanor, Mr. President, but it leaves a lasting scar on the victim who is always suspicious and fearful of anyone who gets too close to them.
Harry Gill (MP (PPP)
Editor’s note: Mr. Gill’s letter will be continued in our issue tomorrow
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
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