Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn said although the total number of recorded serious crimes in Guyana fell by 17% in 2023, cases of murders and gun-related crimes including robberies remain a major challenge for the Guyana Police Force. 

At a press conference this morning, Minister Benn said while he was pleased with the overall reduction in serious crimes, he cannot ignore the challenges facing the country’s security sector. 

He linked the rise in murder cases to the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory fire which took place in May, 2023. That fire claimed the lives of 20 children and a former student of the same school is facing murder charges, after it was determined that the fire was maliciously set.

159 murders were recorded in 2023, compared to 122 in 2022.

“I am reminded here that we have an increase in murders, totally, in our country over the year. That those murders are disorderly murders. It seems as though murders occur even perhaps because we don’t want to separate ourselves from situations, which could escalate, that perhaps, men, particularly, would want to engage in issues which would result in harm in people,” Minister Benn said. 

Mr. Benn said the Home Affairs Ministry will be enhancing its collaboration with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to promote conflict resolution. 

The House Affairs Minister also noted that gun-related crimes remain a troubling problem, despite the efforts of the Guyana Police Force and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Agency (CANU) to clear the streets of illegal weapons.

 “So, while there has been in fact, the question of a reduction of robbery under arms using firearms, it is said that we have a 17.9% [reduction], we are indeed concern about the question of the use, the availability of firearms in our country,” Minister Benn said.

He said while Guyana does not manufacture guns and ammunitions, many of the illegal guns are being smuggled through the country’s porous borders. In some cases, guns that were in the possession of security agencies found their way into the hands of criminals.

A total of 149 illegal firearms were seized in 2023.

Noting that the Police and CANU must do more to identify the source of the guns, Minister Benn said persons who are in possession of illegal weapons should hand those weapons over to the Police. 

“In relation to gun crimes, and the holding and having of illegal guns, we are not going to be doing any amnesty. Those who have guns and shouldn’t have them should perhaps walk into the nearest police station and give them up or put them somewhere, where they could be found. You are not supposed to have any illegal gun. If, you look at what has been happening in Trinidad and Jamaica and Bahamas and other places, the question of having an illegal gun in most instances has nothing to do with being somebody in the bush and wanting to shoot wild hogs, it has to do with criminal activity. It has to do with criminal activity. If you have an illegal gun, pass by the police station, put it in a bag and throw it in the yard,” Minister Benn urged. 

The Home Affairs Minister said his Ministry and the Government are against the presence of illegal weapons on the country’s streets. He said the Home Affairs Ministry will be reviewing the licenses of persons who are found to be misusing their firearms. 

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