Cabinet now reviewing security situation on a weekly basis

The swift arrest of criminal suspects soon after the commission of a crime is impacting positively on police/citizen relationship.
This is the view of the Cabinet of Ministers after a review of the security situation of the country for the past week.
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, told a post cabinet press briefing that there was a general reduction in crime between January 23 and January 29, when there were only 27 reported serious crimes. These included murder, robbery under arms and break and enter and larceny.
With respect to narcotics, during the period under review the police were responsible for the seizure of 402 kilograms of marijuana, with 10 persons being charged and placed before the courts.
Seven hundred and thirty-seven grams of cocaine were also confiscated and four persons were charged, including a Guyanese man who excreted several grams of the drugs hours after he was held at the Ogle Airport as an outgoing passenger.
The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) also seized 65 kilograms of cocaine, recently.
Trotman disclosed that the Guyana Police Force also destroyed 4,000kgs of cannabis plants and 45kilos of the dried herb in the backlands of the West Coast of Demerara.
“The Honourable Minister (of Public Security) stated that there was an improvement of police response to criminal activity, with the police being able to arrive at crime scenes in a more timely manner,” Trotman said.
He added that the police were also able to make several arrests very soon after some incidences of criminal activities.
“This has resulted in a very positive impact on the citizens/police relationship,” the Vice President stated.
Security seems to be very high on the present administration’s agenda and according to Trotman the periodic disclosures of crime statistics will now become routine since the National Security Committee meets weekly with Heads of the nation’s security agencies on Tuesdays prior to the statutory cabinet meeting.
The Committee is headed by President David Granger and includes Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, and Minister of State Joseph Harmon.
“Every week we look at a snap shot… and this will be a weekly feature,” Trotman said.
In addition to the crime statistics, the police reported 23 road accidents with no fatality during the period under review.
However, last week police almost concluded that Mahaicony labourer Curt Burke died as a result of a hit and run accident, despite the opposing views from family members, who feel that he was murdered.
Burke’s dismembered body was found in a clump of bushes at Drill, Mahaicony last week.
A subsequent post mortem conducted by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, found that the man’s body was run over by a large or heavy vehicle multiple times.
Kaieteur News understands however that both traffic ranks and the Criminal Investigations Department on the East Coast of Demerara are still conducting investigations, looking at both theories.