Raphael Trotman
Member of Parliament, Guyana
Focus: Accountable Policing
Topics: External Accountability, Community Policing, Corruption, Non-state security actors
Keywords: external accountability, ethnic representation, donor relations, extrajudicial killings, gangs, vigilantism
Interviewer(s): Daniel Scher
Country of Reform: Guyana
Location: Georgetown, Guyana
Date: Sat May 16 2009
Abstract
Parliamentarian Raphael Trotman explores some of the social, economic, and political dimensions of security-reform efforts. His academic and legislative backbground are apparent in his examination of the culture of violence that he sees growing from more recent drug-related activities and an ever-present distrust between the government and the military and civilian police, largely drawn along ethnic lines. This divide is mirrored by a distrust of the police forces by the civilian population, which has taken matters into its own hands by acquiring weapons for self-protection, and a lack of faith in the judiciary to prosecute criminals. He draws upon cases in Northern Ireland and regional neighbors Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.
