Gov’t pushing for Crime Stoppers Guyana to kick-start but private sector not showing interest -Minister Rohee
Georgetown, GINA, February 17, 2008
The administration has been pushing for the Crime Stoppers Programme to be implemented but it has not been receiving the support from the private sector.
This was disclosed by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee recently.
“It’s not because of the lack of will on the government part. I have been aggressively pushing for this programme to come on stream but you see, the Crime Stoppers Programme internationally, is based on the involvement of the private sector.”
He said, “The government gives leadership in terms of helping to guide the framework or the various steps that are required for the Crime Stoppers Programme to be established. We have done these things.”
Government has brought the stakeholders together, given them the necessary guidance and the pathway both domestically and internationally to get the programme established.
The preparatory work has been done. Guyana has already been registered. There is a business plan and the other documentary work required, has been completed.
“Businessmen have a position to pay more attention to their business entities than to matters such as these but I think there is a lack of an appreciation of the interaction and interconnection between their businesses and this programme. When this programme comes on stream it will reap down fundamentally speaking, to the safety and protection and the security atmosphere in the country and of the private sector that has a lot of properties around town,” Minister Rohee explained.
The Home Affairs Minister said if the businessmen are yet to understand the importance of the programme then it’s a lack of will and noted that as Minister of Home Affairs he may have to engage the community once again, to ensure the programme is launched as soon as possible.
The programme facilitates the passage of information regarding criminal activity from citizens to the police, based on anonymity and it has been successful in reducing and preventing crime worldwide.
It works on three components: the community, the media and the police, with the residents forming the foundation. The media’s role is to assist in highlighting unsolved crimes and it can also regularly promote the special Crime Stoppers telephone numbers.
Minister Rohee noted that if the programme was in place, it would have assisted in the current situation to receive information from the public on wanted man Rondell Rawlins known as “Fine Man”.
“For instant the reward that is offered for Rondell Rawlins, if the Crime Stoppers Programme was in place with the anonymity of the phone number, they could have contributed significantly to persons having some level of comfort and confidence of what the information is providing through the Crime Stoppers hotline. It will be secure and all it will be receiving is some kind of symbol to identify themselves rather than a name and phone number,” Minister Rohee pointed out.
How does the Crime Stoppers Programme work?
If you witness or know about a crime, a 1-800 toll-free number will be made available for you to call. You will never be required to provide your name, or to testify in court. A secret code number will be given to you at the time you report the crime, which would be the basis by which you identify yourself.
You will then be given a time period in which to follow-up on the actions taken, based on the information you provided. Depending on the level of action taken, such as an arrest or conviction, or the amount of items seized and their value, the size of the reward you receive will be determined. The reward would then be handed over to you by a Bank manager at a location of your choice. You would only be required to provide your code number.
Meanwhile, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) US$22M Citizens’ Security Programme (CSP) which will create greater police/community relationship to fight crime will be launched on February 20.
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Veterinary supplies, clearing of Creek mouth being pursued to help Abary farmers
Georgetown, GINA, February 17, 2008.
The provision of veterinary medications for cattle and livestock and clearing the mouth of the Abary Creek are among the main activities to be pursued by Government, as part of immediate efforts to relieve affected farmers in the area.
These and other interventions were discussed today by Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and a team of officials from the Ministry and Regional Administration, when they met farmers at the Onverwagt road-end, Abary Creek in Region Five.
Abary is mainly a cattle rearing area and discussions were centered on protecting the animals especially the calves from the harsh weather conditions. Suggestion were made for the animals to be relocated to the dam surrounding the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary Agricultural Development Scheme, but rice farmers who have crops under cultivation in the scheme opposed the idea. They claimed that the animals will venture into their farms and damage their crops. 
Minister Persaud and farmers discuss interventions at Abary Creek
Requests were made for the Agriculture Ministry to provide veterinary supplies and supplements to maintain the cattle at their current locations. Farmers were advised that approximately $2M has been made available for such a programme for cattle and livestock in the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Creeks.
Under this intervention, veterinary medications and nutrients for the animals will be provided while two veterinarians will be stationed full-time in the area to assist farmers. The medication and supplements will be distributed through various farmers’ groups in the respective areas.
Another issue raised at the meeting was the need for land titles to be granted so farmers can access finance from the banking institutions and further secure their farms from flooding during heavy rainfall. Minister Persaud advised that this matter is recognised and action is being taken to have it addressed.
Farmers were consulted on other actions to help relieve their area from water accumulation caused by excessive rainfall and it was suggested that the mouth of the river be cleared to enhance its discharging capacity.
One farmer committed his two short-boom excavators to carry out the works and it was agreed that Government will provide the fuel and pontoon to transport the machines and cover necessary operational cost to have the job done.
Minister Persaud interacts with farmers at Abary Creek.
Minister Persaud, while at Abary visited the mouth of the creek and inspected the area to be cleared. He also checked out drainage and irrigation structures at Little Abary and Profit/Foulis along the Abary Creek.
Previous interventions to help alleviate the risk of flooding in the Abary Creek include construction of a flood embankment on the left bank of the Creek, a project that was recommended by farmers but after it started and was moving apace, several farmers protested the activity and the project came to a halt.
The Minister’s meeting at Abary follows previous visits to Region Five to other areas including West Coast Berbice and Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks, where farmers and residents were consulted on additional measures to help them deal with the current rainy situation.
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