Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green is suggesting that all leaders in every sector should come together as equals for urgent discussions on finding common approaches to arrest what he sees as an "awful drift towards anarchy and lawlessness" in the society.

In his weekly mayoral broadcast scheduled for broadcast tomorrow on NCN Radio and VCT 28 respectively, Mayor Green expressed grave concern over the number of recent killings and particularly the involvement of teenage perpetrators from so-called middle class homes.

"We're told 'that out of evil cometh good'. The good can be that this is one matter that every leader, and I mean every leader, can meet as equals, sooner than later to discuss a process and to agree on some common approaches to arrest what seems to be an approaching doomsday," Green declared.

"If within one week no one takes the initiative, I will consult with others, to call such a meeting," where those who carry a responsibility will be expected to attend, and help find a way forward.

He said further that the President and his Cabinet and the leaders of all political, religious, and social groups as well as all concerned citizens must see this as a wake up call, alluding to the spate of violent crimes across the country.

No one can benefit, Green stressed, from this awful drift towards anarchy and lawlessness, adding that while it was easy to point fingers, that would be a useless exercise.

He also expressed concern over the killing of persons in circumstances where, he said, judging from recent experiences the perpetrators are unlikely to be apprehended. But Green questioned why there is such silence over these matters in so many quarters and he wondered whether the killers were pursuing their own brand of justice, or if a bigger organisation may be behind it all.

"We may never know the whole truth in order to make a judgment, but clearly these events are not normal for Guyana," the mayor observed.

He alluded also to domestic violence, traffic deaths, angry lovers and countless, uncaring drivers who show little respect for life and limb as well as persons who refuse to obey simple rules of the road, adding that these matters were worrisome.

According to Green, all of these are complicated, if not fuelled by a constant lowering of standards at several levels in our society.

But Green lamented that when a group of teenagers from what appears to be middle class homes can allegedly kill a taxi driver and take away his car, something must be very, very wrong. Five teens have been charged in this case.

And recalling the case of the schoolboy who had burnt a portion of Queen's College, he remarked that this recent occurrence with the taxi driver was a particularly frightening situation. "We must not see this as a problem for the aggrieved families, the police and the courts alone (as) clearly the moral fabric of our society is being torn." He urged that this must not fade way as just another news item to be replaced by more exciting news.

Suggesting that the community may have lost its moral rudder, he noted that today better off families seem to be too busy to go to church, to their mosques or temples.

The mayor remarked also that it appears as if the country was following a new ideology which stipulated that the ends justified the means, and suggested that this issue should be discussed openly. He underscored too that in his view a moral and spiritual revival was the only way out of the country's dilemma.

However, referring to what he termed "cheerful news" from his recent visits to areas in the city, he noted that it was heartening to see many citizens spending their time and money to enhance their surroundings, including mowing and maintaining parapets. The majority of residents of Bel Air Gardens, Subryanville, Campbellville and other areas are doing an excellent job and they are examples of caring, and good citizens who deserved the highest praise and recognition.

He also expressed thanks to Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, Councillors Fitzgerald Agard, Patricia Chase-Green, Junior Garrett, and the two new Councillors Hector Stoute and Amhad Rahadam who have been helpful and enthusiastic.