High-level security meeting tomorrow at Coldingen
- Luncheon, Texiera and Ramotar visit area
Georgetown , GINA, Sunday, August 29, 2004
A high-level meeting is expected to be convened tomorrow, Monday at 16:00hrs at Coldingen to address security and other issues affecting residents there.
Those expected to participate in the meeting are acting President Samuel Hinds, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, Minister of Home Affairs (ag), Gail Texiera and Commander of ‘C' Division, Assistant Commissioner Krishna Lakeraj.
Today, preliminary discussions were held as Dr. Luncheon, Minister Texiera, PPP General Secretary, Donald Ramotar, Commander Lakeraj and PPP/C Region Four Councilor, Director of Sport, Neil Kumar toured the area.
Tomorrow, they will meet with community policing groups in the area, as well as residents to discuss a number of issues, the primary one being, an immediate security response. These meetings were sparked by a devastating rampage by bandits in the wee hours of the morning of Saturday, August 28, when a group of heavily-armed men unleashed an hour of terror on the community.
In the process, they left nine-year-old Christine Sukhra dead and her teen-aged brother Ryan nursing a gun shot wound to his left wrist. The bandits, who numbered about six, had in their possession, high-powered automatic weapons as they proceeded to terrorise five families in the area.
During the rampage they stole $17,000 and some jewellery from one of the homes they entered.
After the visit, HPS said that based on discussions, the community is adamant that security is the number one priority. He added that the Coldingen area appears to be the choice for criminals coming out of Buxton, almost on a weekly basis.
Dr. Luncheon said he was informed that there is an active community policing group in the area, but the group lacks training and resources. The Secretary to the Cabinet said very often, these groups are confronted by bandits with powerful weapons, and as a result, confidence is lost.
Dr. Luncheon said tomorrow's meeting is primarily for the Acting President, the Acting Minister and the Commander to do what is necessary to restore the residents' confidence in the community policing group, and to ensure that the undertakings and promises that were made be dealt with.
Dr. Luncheon noted too, that there will be a move to involve SIMAP and the Ministry of Housing as regards the electrification of the community. He said there seems to be some success made relating to financing, but there is apparently some break-down in communication and the community is therefore at a lost as it relates to the provision of electricity in the area, especially the installation of street lights.
Dr. Luncheon said it is unfortunate the community is losing its populations, since for security reasons; some people are packing and leaving.
Minister Texiera said quick interim measures are essential to restoring a feeling of security among residents. She anticipates that the Monday meeting will provide a clear guideline of what is to be done, when and how quickly.
She noted that reports about a slothful response by the police at the time of the incident are being looked into. The Minister noted that she is sure that a comprehensive report on events will be presented by Commander Lakeraj.
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