Miners association calls on Ramjattan to address upsurge in crime

The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is calling on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan to protect those persons conducting their lawful business and focus their attention on “addressing real crime.”

In a statement issued yesterday, the association expressed its sorrow at the “cold-blooded killing” of one of its members, miner Deon Stoll on Monday, as he was about to conduct business at the establishment of El Dorado Trading. It also extended its condolences to the family of the late Stoll.

The GGDMA challenged the GPF to “focus its attention on addressing real crime and the removing of criminal elements from our society and called on the Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan to “address this upsurge in crime across our country.” The association asked, “How many more must be robbed, or be slaughtered before it is accepted that we have a crime issue in Guyana which

must be addressed?”

As far as the mining body is concerned, it is time for the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force to “weed out the rogue elements from among their ranks since all they do is tarnish the image of the force and the law-abiding officers.” It added that miners and other business persons must feel secure to conduct business in and around the city and the country as a whole and it is the duty of the GPF to “protect and serve.”

Continuing in its interrogative vein, the GGDMA demanded to know “Where are the police patrols? What has happened to the hundreds of vehicles and motorcycles the Government of Guyana has given to the Guyana Police Force? Are these vehicles being used for their intended purpose? What is the Guyana Police Force’s plans to address this upsurge in crime?”

The association said it will not “sit idly by and allow its miners to be slaughtered by these rogue elements.” It urged all its member miners to take “full security precautions” and called on the authorities to take the necessary actions so that “our streets, neighbourhoods, interior and towns can be safe to live and conduct business.”