On the other hand the government it seems has no ability to implement strategies to solve crimes that are targeting largely their supporters. The assumption is, and since this administration has proven to be clandestine in its actions, one cannot be faulted for making assumptions, that it is in the interest of the administration to allow these crimes to continue to be committed. You see since the perception is that most of the robberies and murders are being committed by African Guyanese [men] in a society where ethnic tension is high it continues the division that benefits the administration. A divided Guyanese society translates into votes for the PPP administration. At elections the argument will be used that if you (Indian Guyanese) vote for the PNC or AFC, guns will be given to them (African Guyanese) so they can threaten your [Indian] security. This strategy is the bogey man syndrome. The PPP administration knows that if they maintain the fear of the black man as the bogey man among Indian Guyanese then this would all but ensure their continued hold on power.

The society has a responsibility to agitate against criminals and against those who will use the volatility that crime creates for their own narrow self interest. We must realize that a high rate of unemployment and poverty in the society creates the potential for increased crime. This is not unique to Guyana. It is a phenomenon in every human society where poverty is rampant. This is even made worse when drugs are thrown into the mix. The problem with drugs is that it creates the most unconscionable human beings. Otherwise decent people are turned into the biggest green eyed monsters imaginable.

Guyana has become by all reports a major transshipment point for drugs going to North American and Europe. Inevitably, as with most transshipment points enough of the drug is left behind to create drug lords, money launderers and drug users. Guns are then imported to protect drug lords and their consorts. This in turn creates greed and corruption in the society. Guns therefore become a threat to people who are involved in illegal activities and so the need to acquire guns for protection becomes greater. These guns are then rented out to criminals to commit robberies etc. The reason is money is needed to support the drug trade, and drug traders must encourage robberies in order that there will be enough money to support their business. This is the scenario we are dealing with, and it is seen too often in societies troubled with drugs.

Indian Guyanese are targeted on the east coast because the east coast is the hub of economic activities, some of it is smuggling of goods across the border. Therefore there is a tremendous amount of money being kept in homes for ready transactions. Indian Guyanese cannot afford to put money in the banks because it is not easy to withdraw money at a moment's notice. Guyana still has a pre-modern mode of banking that does not allow for immediate availability of withdrawals. The bureaucracy involved in making a transaction at the bank is extremely frustrating like many other transaction activities in Guyana. So it is understandable why many Indian Guyanese still keep large sums of money and other valuables at home, even though this continues to be dangerous. Criminals know that on the East Coast there are large sums of money in houses and so they will continue to target the East Coast.

As citizen we must declare war on poverty, drugs and crime. By declaring war on these elements we cannot be afraid to declare war on those who are responsible for the policies that foster these ills. We must re-examine the way political motives and government policies have helped create the crisis and are used to frustrate the solutions.

The ethnic tension has made it difficult to find solutions to this problem. Citizens do not hold the government accountable. Instead they hold entire ethnic groups accountable while the political elite that govern get off scot free.

Indian Guyanese have a responsibility to be more critical of the government they voted for. They must demand more humanist policies from the government. We see a government exert tremendous energy in getting world cup cricket to Guyana. The government is able to persuade the Indian government to lend them tens of millions to build a cricket stadium and everyone is contented. However the government cannot exert the same energy to get investments to Guyana that will create jobs and take idle youths off the streets. They are content with borrowing billions of dollars from international financial institutions which facilitate governmental corruption and leave debts too large for the next generation to pay, instead of focusing on creating an environment for enhanced economic activities that will in turn create a prosperous society for all.

Indian Guyanese must say no to inaction and yes to action. An activist Indian Guyanese community is one that will fight crime by exposing drug lords and demand good governance; that will reach out to the African Guyanese in helping them to fight poverty and unemployment in their communities. In addition, the African Guyanese community must not remain silent when criminal acts are committed by African Guyanese youths. There must be more dialogue and cooperation among African and Indians Guyanese leaders.

Yours faithfully,

Dennis Wiggins

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