Police patrolling roadways to ensure safety of commuters – Asst. Commissioner Mahendra Singh

Assistant Commissioner of Police and Head of the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Mahendra Singh has assured that police officers are patrolling the roadways countrywide to ensure safety of commuters.

This exercise was undertaken following violent protests across the country on Monday night, whereby criminal elements sought to cause public terror by blocking roadways, burning debris, destroying public and private infrastructure, looting, and causing harm to innocent individuals.

Monday night’s violence caused concern among many citizens, especially those who are still on the roadways, with limited information available on the danger zones.

In an interview with this publication on Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner Singh noted that much of the violence has ended. Nevertheless, he assured that police officers are manning the roadways.

“Generally, as we patrol, like everything, we do observe. If there is an issue that arises that we need to address, we will address. Naturally, if there is something that comes up even at the last moment, we, as we usually do, provide an advisory.”

In one instance brought to the attention of this publication, police officers responded to a development in Agricola on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) on Tuesday whereby residents attempted to again block the road. The residents’ intentions were blocked by the intervention of the police officers.

For the most part of the day so far, the Traffic Chief indicated that the roadways were incident-free.

Meanwhile, he used the opportunity to condemn the violence that erupted on Monday night.

“When we engage in such actions, the image being portrayed to the outside world is not a good one,” he outlined.

“When we damage our own infrastructure, it is the same people—our government—who have to rebuild it. And that infrastructure is meant to serve us as citizens,” he added.

According to the senior policeman, “we have to fix the damages that we, from the start, would have caused. So, if you ask me what law enforcement would advise everyone, it’s this: do the right thing. Always act lawfully. Don’t engage in incitement, public terror, or any behaviour that results in damage to public property.”