The Catholic Standard, Guyana’s Catholic weekly, has called on the main opposition party to join in anti-crime consultations.

In its February 22 editorial, the paper said the January killings in Lusignan and the February killings in Bartica were causing “increasing uncertainty, fear and despair”.

The incidents were pushing the country away from economic and social stability and increases the possibility of total collapse, the paper said.
The weekly went on to say that there is widespread belief that the political parties not only are largely responsible for what has developed, but have the power to provide a solution.

The Standard said one constant appeal is for political parties “to put their differences behind them even if only to try to formulate a united approach to the crime situation.”

It described as an “important first step” the signing of a communiqué by political parties Alliance For Change and the Guyana Action Party/ Working People’s Alliance.

The communiqué was produced following a hastily arranged meeting on February 19 by President Bharrat Jagdeo in the wake of the February 17 Bartica incident. The meeting involved various sectors of Guyana’s society, including business and religious leaders.

The Standard, however, lamented the absence from the meeting of the main opposition party - the People’s National Congress Reform - saying, “This position is unlikely to instill confidence in an already petrified population”.

The Catholic weekly concluded “We therefore strongly urge the main opposition to reconsider its position” in an effort to ensure consultations are truly national and thorough. “…If not, the national insecurity which is now being experienced is likely at best to continue and at worse to deteriorate even further”.