Despite earnest efforts by the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Home Affairs to fudge the numbers on crime, Guyana continues to be considered unsafe by the international agencies. Earlier this week, the Population Review issued its figures per 100,000 people, with Guyana ranking number 8, one place higher up on the 2021 ranking.
On its website, under the heading, ‘Crime Rate by Country 2022’, the world-renowned compilation of statistics on crime states:
“Guyana has the eighth-highest crime rate worldwide of 68.74, and a murder rate of about four times higher than that of the United States. Despite a rigorous licensing requirement to own firearms, the use of weapons by criminals is common. Domestic violence happens regularly in Guyana, as the enforcement of domestic violence laws is weak. Armed robberies occur frequently as well, especially in Georgetown. Additionally, tourists are often the victims of hotel break-ins, robberies, and assaults”.
The above is in stark contrast to what the Minister of Home Affairs reported to the nation in February of this year. Boasting of a decline in crime based on statistics compiled by the Guyana Police Force, the installed Minister stated:
“The reduction is due to provision by the government resources in the form of 45 motorcycles and support of vehicles and loans from government agencies along with better use of surveillance cameras and intelligence show the efficacy of this…”.
Added to this, the Minister touted a 6.9% reduction in serious crimes. The World Population Review and the US Embassy have sounded the alarm on crime in Guyana and the PPP’s failure to deal with the situation. Despite these efforts, the government continues to propagandize the issue of crime.
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