By Mark DaCosta- A video has emerged that shows a police officer in Region #1 irresponsibly discharging a high-powered rifle in a populated area, raising serious concerns about public safety and police accountability. The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has vehemently condemned this incident, viewing it as a reflection of the spiralling lawlessness that pervades our nation’s security forces, attributed to the current administration’s failure to uphold professionalism and accountability.
The footage circulating on social media has sparked outrage among citizens, showing a police officer wielding a military-grade firearm as he fires shots near bystanders. The alarming nature of this display raises critical questions about how such weapons are placed in the hands of individuals who appear to disregard their responsibility towards the public. Typically, high-powered rifles are designated for specific police operations and should not leave secure facilities after such missions. One might wonder what circumstances could possibly justify their presence within our communities, under the stewardship of those tasked with ensuring safety.
This episode is not merely an instance of isolated misconduct but rather emblematic of the systemic failures that have beset our police force. The APNU asserts that the incident highlights a crisis in the security sector — one that stems from inadequate training, poor vetting practices, and rampant politicisation of the police force by the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP). “When officers feel emboldened to behave like vigilantes in the streets, it is a direct indictment of the leadership at the Ministry of Home Affairs,” said Sherod Duncan, APNU’s parliamentarian with responsibility for Home Affairs.
The environment of impunity highlighted by this incident risk further eroding public trust in law enforcement, replacing it with fear. For many citizens, the notion of security now feels more like a burden than a safeguard. The reckless actions displayed in the video not only endanger lives but act as a stark reminder of the fracturing relationship between the police and the communities they are meant to serve. Rather than acting as protectors, officers appear to be posing a threat to the very individuals they are sworn to defend, as evidenced by the desperate actions of bystanders who intervened in an attempt to restrain the officer.
The APNU has taken a firm stance, insisting on an urgent independent investigation into not only this incident but into the overall operational practices and mental readiness of police officers on duty, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Barima-Waini. Duncan noted, “We demand more than just a standard internal probe; we call for an urgent review of the operational command and psychological fitness of ranks deployed to regional divisions.” Such a step is deemed necessary to restore public faith and to ensure the safety of all citizens across the nation.
The current government’s persistent mismanagement of the Guyana Police Force has fostered an atmosphere where rule-breaking has become commonplace. Citizens express their growing fears of living in a society where they are often left unprotected from those who have pledged to serve them, indicating a stark decline in police standards. The absence of visible accountability or robust leadership from the Ministry of Home Affairs raises alarms about the direction of safety in our nation.
Moreover, the APNU places direct accountability on the Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond, and the Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, holding them responsible for the current trajectory of law enforcement in our country. They are urged to develop a comprehensive and credible plan that addresses the evident deterioration of discipline within the police, restoring sanity and professionalism to an institution that has strayed far from its core purpose.
As citizens collectively grapple with this incident’s implications, there is a palpable demand for corrective action and effective governance, ensuring that such egregious behaviour is neither tolerated nor repeated. Our nation deserves a police force that upholds dignity and offers genuine protection to its people, rather than one marked by indiscipline and recklessness. The APNU calls on all concerned parties to take immediate and impactful steps to address this dire situation before further innocent lives are put at unnecessary risk.
