Since December 18, in Cayenne, six additional police officers have been assigned to the anti-holdup system set up by the territorial directorate of the national police of Guyana. The objective: to deter criminals and reassure customers and merchants during this end-of-year holiday period.
Cash drawers that are full to bursting and a large number of people in shopping centers and the city center are enough to whet appetites that are not very commendable. If the end-of-year holiday period is good for traders, it is also good for criminals attracted by the abundance of cash in circulation.
To limit acts of violence, the territorial direction of the national police has put in place an anti-holdup system since December 18. Two vehicles, screen-printed with the name of the operation, patrol from 10:00 a.m. to 21:00 in areas identified as at risk.
“These are really additional resources, indicates the deputy territorial director of the national police in Guyana, Christophe Foissey. We rented two vehicles for three weeks. We also called on reservists to replace the personnel mobilized on anti-heist patrols.
The workforce is made up of experienced agents from the departmental intervention company and equipped with automatic assault rifles to deal with possible armed criminals. The peacekeeper, Dina, explains the role of the teams: “be present, show the population that the police are on the ground and also advise traders about the risks of armed robbery.”
Retailers are also taking precautions, by limiting the quantity of cash and strengthening private security, as emphasized by Béatrice Thébé, director of Ecomax stores in Guyana.
Unfortunately, we are forced to call on more security agents in the face of crime, we have also increased the number of cash carriers. The police presence is reassuring during this period.
Béatrice Thébé, director of Ecomax stores
According to the DTPN, the results are already there. Between December 18 and 24, two armed robberies were noted in the territory of Cayenne. Anti-holdup patrols are in place until January 8.
