Guyana's security forces unable to meet recruitment needs- PPP Jagdeo

Immediately, the country saw mass termination of blacks in the government civil services. All of the black managers were replaced with Indo Guyanese and the black subordinates were targeted through constructive dismissal or mandatory firings.

The government also focused its attention on the joint services with its predomantly high afro representation. This task seemed a bit more challenging as they were concerned that the armed services could form a coup and topple the administration if they became aware of the PPP's plan to terminate their positions. The party was then forced to moved to plan 'B", which was to keep the salary of the joint services below inflation and deflation, thus making it economically impossible for the ranks to earn a living if they remained in the job. The plan however backfired and because of the ill advised policy, the armed services became susceptible to curruption in an effort to substitute their meagre income. Morale was also affected within the ranks and they developed a lacked of motivation to fight crime.

The party is now at a crossroad and have publicly stated a no confidence in the joint services's ability to fight crime. In a blatant indictment against security forces, the PPP publicly advised their Indo constituents to form community policing groups and told them that the armed services is unable to solve crimes.

Guyana's armed services is the lowest paid in the caricom region. Consequently, it is unable to recruit and maintain personnel. The PPP is now faced with tough decisions-

(1)increase the salaries to attract new candidates or

(2) leave the salary low to continue flushing out the black ranks while crime increases.

Critics are placing bets that the PPP's desire to see blacks exit the joint services is stronger than their need to curb crime and this will cause them to choose the latter. Consequently, Guyana will continue to see the escaltion of crime and this will not change untill it places a strangle hold on the the PPP's voting base and we are witnessing the first signs of this occurring.