NPS parliamentary group leader Jerrel Pawiroredjo wants the police to take stricter action against vehicles with dark-tinted windows. According to him, action must be taken without exception against drivers of such vehicles. He said this on Friday during the interpellation on the security situation in De Nationale Assemblee (DNA, Suriname’s parliament).
“Why is strict action not being taken against very dark car windows?”, Pawiroredjo asked the government. According to the parliamentarian, criminals use vehicles whose windows are tinted to such an extent that it is hardly possible to see inside. He referred to car windows with light transmission of only 5 percent.
DNA member Stanley Betterson also expressed concern about the use of vehicles with dark-tinted windows in criminal activities. According to him, criminals often use small cars with tinted windows. “There must be a zero-tolerance policy on window tinting,” Betterson stated. He expects stricter checks to help the police track down criminals.
Expansion of Safe City camera network
Pawiroredjo further stressed that violent robberies and robbery murders leave deep scars on society. According to him, such crimes cause major social unrest and reinforce citizens’ feelings of insecurity.
The NPS parliamentary group leader pointed out that the state is responsible for the safety of everyone on Surinamese territory. He therefore wanted to know from the government whether there is a master plan to guarantee citizens’ safety, with particular attention to the interior.
Although Pawiroredjo acknowledges that the security services face shortages of personnel and resources, he believes that this is precisely why the government must act decisively to address these problems.
He also advocated expanding the Safe City camera network to the districts. According to him, better camera coverage can contribute to tracking down suspects and increasing security outside Paramaribo.
Addressing the social causes of crime
Pawiroredjo stressed that repressive measures alone are not sufficient to sustainably reduce crime. According to him, the government must also pay attention to the underlying social problems.
“We must above all look at the deeper social causes, such as poverty and drop-outs,” the parliamentarian stated.
He pointed to the growing gap between rich and poor, social inequality and unequal opportunities. According to Pawiroredjo, these circumstances can contribute to an increase in crime.
“That is why it is important for policy to focus on this. A more equal society is essential for a safe society,” the NPS parliamentary group leader said.
