IT is time for the President to hold a high-level security meeting with the heads of the security forces to address the increasingly scattered and sometimes disruptive, if not violent behaviour by some protesters that may likely lead to serious injuries or deaths. Added to this is the lack of experience in the lower ranks on how to react to varying degrees of hostility.

There needs to be clear plans in place to deal with any protests violent or otherwise. If they already exist, why are they not working as well as expected? There is a critical need to identify those protests that may likely become a problem and plan accordingly. The Georgetown Magistrate’s Court incident is a small example. Plans must be in place on how to react from talking to protesters in an attempt to diffuse the situation and what reasonable steps are best taken before using increasing force. Every step must be based on a serious consideration of what each step entails and the resulting backlash and damage that may occur.

There must be sufficient forces and equipment to meet evolving situations. The GPF most likely cannot muster sufficient forces in some situations and will need to have the services of the GDF to free up police officers by taking over some guard or other duties and acting as backup to secure public buildings and roads. With limited resources, Guyana cannot afford a standing army looking outward, but more of a National Guard, trained in part to provide specific "military police" units to supplement the police, where necessary.
Protesters need to be warned that they should disperse when some protesters start to behave violently, as more serious force may have to be used. Time for the maximum