The APNU+AFC coalition government continues to face criticism for the crime situation in the country with the most recent fault – finding assessment coming from the political opposition.

Former Minister with responsibility for security under the People’s Progressive Party government, Clement Rohee slammed the David Granger – led administration for what he said was its failure to match words with deeds.

Rohee who is also the General Secretary of the PPP, told reporters on Tuesday that the administration continues to be “pig-headed” on the issues of crime and feels that it has all the answers.

“It is clear that the Granger administration’s public security plan is a total disaster,” Rohee said.

He reminded the coalition of its election promise to ensure law and order and said it must admit, along with the security agencies, that the crime situation is out of control or it is losing the war on crime.

“The government lacks the courage and political will to admit its mistakes and a change in course on its promises… it prefers to keep flip-flopping,” Rohee added.

He said in his assessment, crimes committed with the use of illegal firearms, gang related assaults and narcotics trafficking have pushed up the rate of serious crime.

But Rohee’s comments are in contrast to police statistics which continue to show a decrease in serious crimes. On this point, the former Home Affairs Minister said there will always be a contest between police statistics and public perception.

“People tend towards public perception and regardless of the statistics public perception will always contest.”

Mr. Rohee said he believes the PPP can assist he government in its crime prevention efforts and called on the administration to activate the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Public Safety and Security.

“This committee was set up even before the last elections and the Granger administration failed to activate it,” he added.

Rohee criticized the functioning of the National Security Committee and the joint service anti-crime and counter terrorism Operation Dragnet.

When the PPP was booted from office last May, the country was already facing a serious crime problem, with few cases being solved and the Police Force complaining of not being provided with enough assistance to better the crime fight.

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