By Mark DaCosta- The brutal slaying of Linden businessman Amar Jones on Tuesday afternoon has sent more shockwaves through Region 10, coming mere hours after another man from neighbouring Bamia was executed in similar fashion. Jones was reportedly confronted at his home by two masked assailants who ended his life in cold blood, underscoring the deepening crisis of violent crime that continues to plague our nation.
The killing of Jones, a figure known in Linden’s business community, is not an isolated tragedy but part of a disturbing pattern. Only twelve hours earlier, Dion Shawn Ramdyhan, a bus driver and poultry farmer from Bamia, was gunned down inside his modest home. The back‑to‑back murders have left residents reeling, with Regional Councillor Mark Goring declaring, “we are shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of two young lives… This senseless violence is unacceptable and demands immediate attention and action from our law enforcement and policy makers.” His words echo the frustration of communities that feel abandoned by a government more concerned with statistical spin than genuine safety.
Ramdyhan’s killing in the early hours of 30 December revealed the vulnerability of ordinary Guyanese. Awoken by gunfire, his companion Ernest Hall could do little as Ramdyhan was riddled with bullets in his own bed. The zinc‑roofed dwelling offered no protection against intruders armed with pistols, weapons that remain the criminal’s tool of choice despite official boasts of seizures. Police figures claim that 2025 saw the confiscation of around 100 illegal firearms, yet the proliferation of small arms continues unabated. For every pistol seized, many more circulate freely, fuelling robberies and murders across our country.
The paradox of crime statistics in 2025 is stark. Authorities trumpet a 25 percent decline in serious crimes and a 14 percent fall in homicides compared to the previous year. Yet beneath this veneer of progress lies a harsher reality: domestic murders doubled, rising from 13 to 26, while disorderly killings sparked by arguments remain the leading cause of death. Region 4 may record the highest proportion of murders, but the killings in Linden and Bamia prove that rural communities are far from immune. Numbers on a chart mean little when families are left to bury loved ones and communities are paralysed by fear.
The PPP government has consistently promised stronger policing and safer communities, but the lived experience of citizens tells another story. Criminals operate with impunity, investigations stall, and justice remains elusive. No suspects have been apprehended in either the Linden or Bamia shootings, leaving residents to wonder whether these cases will join the long list of unsolved murders. The administration’s reliance on reactive seizures and public relations exercises has failed to address the root causes of violence: porous borders, weak enforcement, and the unchecked flow of illegal weapons.
Jones’s murder, carried out by masked gunmen in broad daylight, highlights the brazenness of criminals who no longer fear the state. Ramdyhan’s execution in the dead of night shows that violence is not confined to predictable hours or urban centres. Together, these killings expose the fragility of life in our nation under a government that congratulates itself on statistical declines while ordinary citizens remain exposed.
Jones’ ex-girlfriend has been taken into police custody as investigators launch a search for her current boyfriend.
The voices of grief and outrage from Linden and Bamia demand more than condolences. They demand accountability, justice, and a fundamental shift in how crime is confronted. As Goring rightly noted, “we echo the call for reelection and action to address the root causes of this violence and ensure justice for the victims and their families.” His words reflect a growing sentiment that change is urgently needed, not only in policing but in governance itself.
Until the PPP administration confronts the reality of firearm proliferation and invests in genuine community safety, tragedies like these will continue to unfold.
