Ey Media Watch Capitol News O Capitol News cameraman Ravle DaSilva received five pellet waunds while covering strike provests outside the John Fernandes wharf, Georgetown on 18 May, when police opened fire Gry O Guyana Television Broadcasting €o Ltd (GTV) cameraman Richard Ramnarine and Administrative Manager Doodnauth Singh were attacked by a crowd outside the Guyana Public Service Union {GPSU) headquarters, Georgetown, ‘on 20 May, while waiting for an interview with General Secretary Lawrence Mentis. ‘They were hit in the face and head, and Ramnarine’s ‘camera snatched away, Mentis intervened and subsequently apologised, saying the attackers were ‘not strike supporters, and the camera was found and returned. GPA Enrico Woolford, President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), ‘issued a statement condemning the attacks on Rawle DaSilva and ‘Richard Rammatine, saying incidents of attacks on the media had become too frequent. The statement also urged that Guyana Police Force officers and ranks recognise the privilege of the press to record news and other events ens O Mata Persaud, head of the Canal No 2 Polder Community Policing Group and who was accused of attacking CNSTV proprietor Chandra Narine Sharma while the latter was investigating reports ‘enitical of Persaud, on 14 February - ‘was found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm, malicious damage to y, and blocking: ite cadONiy a de reac: Hoop Magistrate's Court. GBC CO The Guyana Broadcasting Accused Tried. Sentenced. Execnted. with violent crime, particularly against That ‘ought to have provided reason ead rich businessmen, saysthe senior officer, to equip the Police Force properly i of arming the citizens Sources close to the state security system point out that the number of citizens who, presumably, have been carrying the dise apons over the past seven exceeds the overall strength of wed services, “Assuming that Citizens own much more modem and efficient weapons th ailable to the police, that, from a national security standp n those a is an entirely untenable as a former police officer Speculatio guns which are owned by private citizens nuns as to numbe into hundred of thousands. Gun trafficking along with other forms of commodity smuggling, has long bi problem here and itis not unlikely that legal arms caches could outnumber legally held weapons. In addition, the weapons used by terrorists in the GAWU inspired communal killings of February July 1964 and the guns stolen from the Guyana Defence Force in December 1967 have never been found Even allowing for public concer over the incidence of gun-related crime, the ery 20 civilians secured a g since 1992 whether we are going in the right you have to ask yourself direction,” says the formes police officer Not surprisingly announcement regarding the g of gun licenses over the past seve has be volatile political climate since the December 1997 general elections. The Stabroek News newspaper of Thursday 13 May published a leter under the name of Lloyd Smith in which the writer attributes the surfeit of gun licenses to to the =n assessed in the context of the the Administration's response demands of its support base in the population The Administration cannot be unaware ofthe implications of a heavily armed c:tizenry — an upsurge in gun related crime, marginalisation of the police, and the possible outbreak of armed confrontations. Whatever the rationale, the wholesale issuance of firearm licences to selected citizens over the past seven years reveals the dangerous decision to place access to the instruments of violence and the threat of violence, as in the hands of a chosen few rather than pursue the goal of Corporation (GBC) marked i820) numer of licences issued over the past protecting the entire society anniversary dining the week of 88-| Seven years in considered excesgne, ee cung neem seen . S0.May a Guyana Review, June 1999STAGE TNE 30,012 gun licences Public alarm over gun-related crimes would hardly have been assuaged by the recent revelation that the authorities have issued 30,012 licences to civilians since 1992, Just who are sn licen enior off TAU es Ta a eR as ae) Building And Construction Materials * Galvanised Barbed Wire '» Nails (Head & Finishing) #\Cornigated Sheet in any length 6 to 50 ft. All types of Aluminum Windows Ready mixéd ‘© Chain Link Fencing 3°, 4’, 6", 8, 10° ‘Shop Fronts # Concrete ‘© Welded Wire Mesh (BRC Fabric) ‘Shop Cases © Crushed stonés, Stee! Reinforcing Bars 1/4” to. 1/4” CMY 5 ‘PVC PIPES 1/2"-12" dia. For potable water ts © Garden hose *Rope ine PVC Electrital Conduit Guyana Review, June 1999 1