Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 16, 2011 Editorial
When there is burgeoning crime in a society there must be many underlying factors. Some social analysts seek to link crime to rampant poverty. Their conclusion is that because the wants and needs of people outstrip their affordability, these people would pursue criminal activities to bridge the gap between what they have and what they need or want.
But there are those who say that the pursuit of criminal activities is rooted by an inefficient law enforcement entity. They say that the greatest deterrent to crime is the fact that the perpetrator would be caught. The analysts would point to countries where there is reduced crime. They would examine the rate of crime-solving and compare it to the level of crime.
Then there are those who would look at the most affluent societies to determine the levels of crime and the nature of crimes committed. Indeed, it has been found that even the affluent would commit crimes, more often, though, out of boredom.
We hasten to add that crime comes in many forms. There are the violent crimes of passion, among them murder, wounding and armed robberies. In Guyana there have already been more murders this year than for the corresponding period last year.
Many of these murders are what the police call disorderly murders—crimes stemming from some confrontation that would normally have been resolved through dialogue. These are open and shut cases and are easily solved. Then there are the killings that occur during robberies. Many of these occur because the perpetrator is as afraid as the victim and his action is often one of desperation. The fact that there are many such crimes is often due to the perpetrators managing to elude capture. Some of these perpetrators will strike again as they become emboldened by their ability to escape after their criminal acts. Something must influence these actions and one conclusion is that the perpetrators want to live the high life but they are ill equipped to earn the kind of money by honest means to satisfy that desire. Yet there is now a frightening side to this. We noticed that at least two days this week people left the commercial banks and soon after, attracted gunmen.
For some time we have been saying that the gunmen must be working closely with someone inside the bank. If that is not the case then there is someone inside the bank—and this must be so for every commercial bank in the city—who would act as a spotter.
It is becoming increasingly clear that there should not be large cash transactions. Those who want to cheat on income tax end up losing more than if they had to pay the tax man. One must suppose that people remain free to do whatever they want and to abide by the consequences.
Yet the society must protect them from themselves. The commercial banks are currently working to have plastic become the standard form of money transfers and to protect some people from the armed bandits who are now preying on the hapless business person. But this programme or effort needs support. In some countries where the money laundering legislation is in effect people who make purchases and pay in large sums of cash. This legislation also restricts the deposit of large sums of cash in commercial banks. For more than five years there have been those in the business world who have been asking for such a development in Guyana. And the government obliged by modifying the money laundering legislation.
It is here that we see the need for a multi-pronged approach. The government has been talking about installing cameras on the streets. We hear that the camera programme is ongoing but for it to take so long is astonishing especially since crime appears to be on the increase. And the police appear to lack the capability to properly investigate criminal incidents is also worrying.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]