There has been a 63 per cent decline in crime in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and also a huge reduction in traffic offences, according to the police commander of that region, Assistant Commissioner Shivpersaud Bacchus.
Addressing a gathering at the commissioning of the new Central Police Station headquarters in New Amsterdam on Tuesday, Commander Bacchus said both crime and traffic statistics showed a drastic decline.

“I am proud, standing in front of you… to say that Regional Police Division Six is celebrating a minus 34 per cent of traffic incidents and traffic accidents. It therefore means that the rank and file within the region would understand the challenge, would understand the circumstances, and would continue to perform their duty with professionalism and accountability. Honourable Minister, we stand proud in Region Six to report that we are at 63 per cent minus in indictable and summary offences in Regional Police Division Six. It therefore tells us that our strategies employed and deployed are working,” the Commander declared.
However, Bacchus stopped short of saying what the range of the comparison was to arrive at his conclusion: whether it was the past month, the corresponding period last year or over the past decade.
Nevertheless, Home Affairs Minister Robson Benn said those statistics should not be a reason for law enforcement officers to relax.
“We should not rest on our laurels as a result of the statistics we have. We know that there are many other things which we should intercept early before they evolve into bigger crimes or worse things. We know that there is still smuggling of stuff over the Corentyne River landing up all over the place: banana, pineapple, cheese, chicken… We need to get on top of that. And of course, [there] is still [the] planting of ganja along the Canje and Berbice Rivers,” the Minister pointed out.
Commander Bacchus, while praising the efforts of the ranks in the region, sounded a stern warning to those who may be involved in unprofessional conduct: “Policemen and Region Six would have distinguished themselves. I know, and I am cognisant of the fact [that] there are complaints of misconduct and unprofessional conduct and corruption. Corruption is a no-no for us. When you get involved in corrupt practices… you will be dealt with accordingly,” he warned.