The information that follows was provided by a representative of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) during a 14 August 1998 telephone interview.

In the view of the GHRA, the police does not discriminate on grounds of race or political affiliation in its handling of complaints and crimes. There were concerns about police bias based mostly on political affiliation or ethnicity before 1992, but the situation as regards equality of rights and freedoms has constantly improved since then, and the police are now perceived to be neutral on questions of ethnicity and political affiliation. However, there is a serious problem with violent crime, which has been steadily increasing in both numbers and violence. In Guyana, a country of some 750,000 inhabitants, about two violent home invasions take place every week, and most of the victims are Indo-Guyanese victims. The increase in violent crime is attributed mostly to illegal drugs and persons seeking to finance their consumption. The disproportionate victimization of Indo-Guyanese is attributed to their proportionally greater affluence, since they are a major component of the business and trading 'class', and many are relatively prosperous farmers.

Violent crime takes place in both rural and urban areas. Women generally avoid walking at night in many parts of the city and rural areas due to an increase in violent hold-ups. Many people have been killed, particularly when resisting.

The police response to violent crimes has been inadequate; rather than an ethnic or political motivation for this incapacity to cope, it is widely perceived that the police force does not have the necessary manpower, training and salaries to ensure an effective action against the increasing crime.

In July 1998 the Guyana Chronicle published an article on public complaints against the inadequate police response to an increase in violent crime. The report states that both Mr. M. S. Raffik, president of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA), and the Private Sector Commission (PSC), denounced the crime situation (24 July 1998). Mr. Raffik stressed the "utter contempt shown for law enforcement," with daytime robberies in the capital and violent home invasions, adding that "there is a limit to what the undermanned, underpaid and outgunned Police Force can achieve" (ibid.). However, the report does not contain any references to racial or political discrimination by police.

Another article published the same day by the Guyana Chronicle reports on the sentencing of a criminal named Harvey George who was captured by police who chased after him after his victim, a businessman named Rooplall Thakur, was held up and raised the alarm (ibid.). The judge overseeing the case, Justice Claudette Singh, imposed a two-year sentence on the criminal; however, his accomplice eluded police at the time of the crime and could not be tried (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Guyana Chronicle [Georgetown]. 24 July 1998. "Berbice Chamber Wants 'Drastic Action' Against Criminals" and "Bogus Cop Jailed for Robbery With Illegal Gun." [Internet]http://www.guyana.org/Chronicle/today.htm[Accessed 13 Aug. 1998]

Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), Georgetown. 14 August 1998. Telephone interview with representative.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1995-98.

Latin American Regional Reports: Central America & the Caribbean [London]. Monthly. 1995-98.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global NewsBank, NEXIS, Internet, Refworld, WNC.

Note:

This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific books available in the Resource Centre are not included.