Crime - The Price of Poor Governance

There is always a price to pay for every decision made in life. Sometimes the payment is sweet, like when the decision is made to have a baby and the result is holding that precious bundle for the first time, and the second time, and so forth. However, sometimes our choices lead to very bad consequences – like the government's decision to be lax about the crime spree in our nation.

The result has been catastrophic for so many, and can only be expected to get worse as time progresses if drastic measures are not taken to stop the criminals. The deviant-minded are not likely to change their ways and start being upstanding citizens just because the people they are victimising cry out for mercy.

Victimisation has long been vogue in Guyana , though it is usually doled out from the hands of our leaders. This time, the victimisation is being heartily distributed by the criminals who rob, rape and murder, as well as from the leaders who have taken no significant measures to remedy the escalating situation.

If the criminals were not our own, that is our own brothers, sisters, neighbours, cousins and friends, then perhaps we would be more vigilant about demanding immediate action. And if those charged with the task of administering justice were not also in some way related or otherwise connected to the criminals, perhaps more of these thugs would be behind bars and less fear would rule the streets of our nation.

We should not forget that the victims are also our brothers, sisters, neighbours, cousins, and friends. Our lethargic approach to life in general, combined with our underlying fear of government reprisal, has put us in one of the most precarious positions we have ever experienced as an independent nation. We have become victims of our own apathy.

So what has been the cost of this crime extravaganza? Most importantly, there are the lost lives. Forget about Guyana 's brain drain for a second and think about all of the lost potential and experience embodied in the citizens who are being picked off one by one.

Another grave cost is the joy and peace of mind ripped from the women who have been raped. This horrid experience will haunt them for the rest of their lives and effect the way they interact with others in society. Fear and distrust will be the mode of operation for years to come for these women.

In fact, fear is exactly what has been instilled in all of us as a result of this recent crime wave. Our sense of security, which was already in a sad state, has all but diminished from existence – this, my friend, is the most significant cost of all.

When will enough be enough? How many people will have to die before we are outraged to the point of action? How many of the women will have to be raped? How much money will we hand over to these thieves at knifepoint before we demand that they be taken off of our streets? It is time for every single citizen of Guyana to count the cost of the crime in our nation.

To be sure, our apathy is no less a criminal act than if we went to our neighbour's house and demanded all of his money and jewellery. As English philosopher Edmund Burke once said, “It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph.”

I am not suggesting a vigilante approach to law enforcement, which is just one more form of lawlessness that Guyana does not need. Our action needs to come by way of a national mandate from the citizens to the government for immediate action toward crime reduction.

Minister of Home Affairs, Gail Teixeira, said this week that she was proud that the police solve 51 percent of crime, yet no murders of business people have been solved. She told the business people to beef up internal security; the fact is we do not get killed in our office. Horrible murders and robberies make the news for a day or two, yet no one goes to trial.

If the police cannot so much as stop someone from littering or desecrating our surroundings, how will they ever be able to stop the more heinous criminals? Moreover, if we do not pay our police force more than $20,000 - 30,000 a month, how do we expect to recruit and maintain a viable force - much less stamp out the internal corruption?

The government continues to try to solve serious issues like this one with a band-aid, which shows their lack of understanding of how to run a country. Crime is directly tied to poverty and national economics. In fact, for every business-person murdered, the further we fall into the permanent grasps of the criminals.

Rather than battling the real enemies of our country, the criminals, this administration has spent more time wrestling with viable businesses over mere pettiness – business that could help our nation. Now we are at a point of desperation.

If the current government cannot clean up the streets, then it is time to get a government that can – and will. There are but a few months for this situation to turn around and for the current administration to prove itself capable of restoring order in proper fashion – that is, without the use of illegal means such as death squads. Casting a vote for an impotent government simply seals our fate to a life of crime and death.

Does anyone really think the world will come to Guyana for the World Cup if even the citizens of this country are afraid to be here? Assuredly, all over the world people are watching Guyana right now to see if we are able to host such a significant event. And be assured Mr. Jagdeo, all of Guyana is watching you to see what you will do next. Will you take the necessary steps to insure the life and liberty of your constituents? Will your administration be able to stop the violent trend of criminal activity that plagues our lives? Guyana , all of Guyana and the world, awaits your reply.