Police ramps approach to elections violence but bigger heads in hiding

ALL SET: The police are expected to take this piece of equipment to the streets in response to elections violence 

As there continues to be no visibility from the Commissioner of Police Leslie James, Deputy Commissioner Maxine Graham, and Paul Williams, the Guyana Police Force has nevertheless ramped up its response to the violence in several parts of the country following the announcement of the results of the elections.

The force is in the process of deploying a newly acquired piece of equipment as a disrespect response to what has been taking place, including the damage to public infrastructure, harassment of innocent people going about their businesses, damage to private property and the injury to school children.

Ranks position themselves on the vehicle which would be used by the riot squad

“The Guyana Police Force has been examining a piece of recently acquired Public Order equipment with a view of deployment” the Guyana Police Force noted in a statement to the press Saturday morning.

It further added “This is in light of recent situations across the Administrative Divisions which resulted in the death of a civilian, injuries to several Police ranks and infrastructural damages”

The police force has however reminded the nation of its Mission Statement which among other things is to serve and protect.

“The mission of the Guyana Police Force and its auxiliaries is to serve all the citizens and communities of Guyana in a professional, proactive and accountable manner. To achieve this, we will work in partnership with communities, public agencies and private bodies to enhance and support an environment where all people are preventing crime and building a safer and secure Guyana.”  The police statement reminded of its Mission Statement.

Since the elections were called, the Commissioner of Police nor his deputies have been visible. Commissioner of Police Leslie James earlier in the year did say that the force was ready and prepared to deal with any eventualities during the election periods.

However, when police ranks were attacked on Friday, they had to run from the protesters. There was also no proper means of transportation to transport an injured rank to the hospital, mechanisms, and provisions which one would have thought would be in standby given what the police ranks were heading into.