The Guyana Police Force has reported that carjacking spiked during the last quarter of 2017, with 47 cases reported, as against 35 cases in 2016 and 41 cases in 2015.
At a press conference on Friday, Police Commissioner (ag), David Ramnarine disclosed that of the 47 cases, 16 were Toyota Premio motor cars and eight were Toyota Allion. He said that so far two persons were investigated to have been involved in robbery under arms where vehicles were stolen and there is one other person under investigation.
“We have not taken comfort in that fact there were just a few more reports in 2017.We deem it to be unacceptable…” the Commissioner stressed.
He described carjackings as having some sort “criminal industrialised concept.”
Describing the Police Force’s performance as satisfactory, the Commissioner said “the Guyana Police has delivered, could we have done more, certainly. As you would know, they were distractions, from within and from outside. Nevertheless, the force stood strong and tall and delivered a satisfactory performance as of the 31, December 2017 when compared with previous performances.”
He noted that the Force recorded an 11 percent decrease in serious crimes in 2017 when compared to 2016.
Robbery under arms involving firearms, saw a 13 percent decrease with 665 reports in 2017, compared to 769 in 2016, a reduction of 104 reports, while robbery underarms involving other instruments saw 278 reports in 2017, as against 306 in 2016 – a 10 percent decrease.
Break and enter, and larceny also saw a significant reduction from 1,275 in 2016 to 1,049 in 2017, an 18 percent reduction.
There were 116 reports of murder in 2017 as against 142 in 2016, a decrease of 18 percent.
What is significant, according to Ramnarine, is of the 116 cases of murder, 88 were solved representing 77%.
“This percentage has been very high for the Guyana Police Force and for this country for quite a long while and we believe this ranks among the highest solved or clear-up rate anywhere in recent times.”
As it relates to piracy, there were nine such reports, of which seven occurred between August and September.
Ramnarine said the force believes that “with the interdiction of a gang of nine including two foreigners in Region One, where two boats were ceased, firearms and narcotics, would have put a dent in piracy. Also, the police floating base which is well equipped.” He also acknowledged the assistance of the coast guard in that area.
Trafficking in Persons (TIP) also saw a substantial reduction of approximately 271 percent credited to increased awareness and provision and access to much-needed training. (Extracted and Modified from the Department of Public Information)
