Dear Editor,

I wish to respond to a statement made by Dr. Luncheon reported in Kaieteur News (3.9.2004) captioned "Arming policing groups among anti-crime measures". This is a recipe for disaster, the reasons being:

1. Some members of the policing groups imbibe alcohol to a point where they become violent and would tend to use more force than is required when confronting persons.

2. They could use those same guns to kill their wives and relatives and neighbours to settle their family difficulties.

3. They will be outgunned by bandits who are skilled in using arms and no .32, .38 or 9mm can match an AK47. The bandits will disarm these individuals, thus increasing their armoury which would eventually be used against the same police that issued the licence.

These are just a few of the many factors why arming community policing groups is not the answer, and I am sure the Commissioner of Police will not be coerced into arming them as he would be the one to face the music when it backfires.

What is needed at this time is for the police to improve their response capability and intelligence gathering, the setting up of police mobile outposts at strategic points in troubled areas with at least three ranks armed with AK47 and M70 rifles and 4x4 vehicles with adequate communication to call for backups. Community Policing groups are vital but their efforts should be concentrated on surveillance of suspected persons and gathering of criminal intelligence. In this regard, their training should be done by the police special branch after which they can be issued with radio sets. That is what they should be armed with. I say this against the background that the criminals of today do not strike randomly their operations are well planned. The first step the criminal takes is:

1. Recce the targeted area

2. Identify target

3. Check Security detail and number of persons in the building

4. Check to confirm whether occupancy in the area and house targeted is armed and to what extent

5. Check to confirm number of ranks at the police stations in the district and their response capability

6. All this is made possible through one or two contact persons in the village and a few crooked cops

7. Before striking, some of the bandits use cocaine which makes them fearless and merciless with no regard for race or base, the squatter settlements are targeted because of their vulnerability. Even though most bandits come from families that support the PNC, there is no hard evidence other than hearsay that the PNC is behind this. What we have on our hands is a band of youths who because of a lack of education and coming from an impoverished background, refuse to work, as the jobs available cannot pay them sufficient to afford their brand name clothing and upkeep their cocaine habit. Their minds are poisoned with the belief that there is no hope for them in this regard and with feelings of insecurity they trust no one and will execute even their partner in crime if they get the slightest feeling he's a snitch.

Even though there is no evidence the PNC has adopted or sponsored these gangs, gang members however get strength from certain statements made by politicians, which give them a feeling of justification.

These youths should be identified, arrested and face trial for their crimes as early as possible, as every day more youths are joining the band. Their source of weaponry should also be cut off. Even the man in the street knows where guns can be purchased at Springlands, East Coast, Charlestown, etc. Many business people find it profitable to smuggle in guns and sell them. The trouble is many crooked cops are watching the backs of these business people. Further I say not.

Yours faithfully,

C. A. S. Gibbs