Traffic, crime and COVID-19 seems high in Ramlakhan’s agenda

Commander Ramlakhan in conversation with a vendor on Saturday 

A team of police headed by its Commander, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, on Saturday conducted a sensitization campaign and mask distribution, as part of the continued efforts of the Guyana Police Force to minimize the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

“When I pull this mask over my nose, I does feel like I does stifle and my face all does get red and heated,” a vendor told the commander when he questioned her about her refusal to wear a mask.

The Guyana Police Force has been coming in for flak for its handling of enforcement measures to deal with persons who are flouting aspects of the public health ordinance in accordance with the coronavirus.

But the Force itself does have challenges in its own enforcement of the guidelines. That is to say, it remains risky for the police to bundle persons and take them to a station for processing, as the stations are not retrofitted with the necessary space and mechanisms to detain persons in a social distancing mode.

Ramlakhan said, however, that he was pleased with the level of responsibility that Berbicians are showing as it relates to the general guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“I’m actually impressed with what I have seen, as opposed to other communities and areas. I know not everyone will adhere to the rules, but the majority of persons were taking precautions. However, we will not stop there. I will continue to have the ranks go out and educate persons,” the commander noted.

On the issue of security, Ramlakhan said that the responsibility of the police is to have persons commute and carry out their normal life routines without fear of becoming victims of crime, of any sort.

It was against that backdrop that he made mention of intentions to implement a 24-hour police patrol system in several areas within the region.

“I will first start this initiative in New Amsterdam, because that is kind of like a hotspot, and I know the business sector will benefit tremendously, as they will be able to operate freely,” Ramlakhan said.

The traffic situation along the Corentyne coast is also something that the commander plans to address, especially around the busy commercial areas, as according to him, a recent visit to the area caused him to be concerned with the traffic management in that area.

“The officers have to come out and be on the road. I made it clear that they are being paid to do their job and not sit behind a desk at the station. Because what I realized is that many persons who are driving prefer to stop at a stand or store along the roadside and purchase stuff from there,” he stated.

Ramlakhan recently took up his post in Region 6 as its Commander, having come from Region 1.