Dear Editor,
I read with keen interest about the callous treatment meted out to our former First Lady by our President. Mr Jagdeo needs to remember that this lady is an educated individual who has the option of returning to England to pursue her dreams and find happiness. However, she opts to remain in Guyana and continue the work she has started within the Kids First Fund, an organisation that is dedicated to saving the lives of children with serious health conditions, children whose parents cannot afford the treatment they need to save their lives. I am sure that there is no one else who can fill her shoes within that organisation and she is to be admired and applauded for her decision.
It would appear that our President and his supporters would disagree with me, however. They seem to be trying to put a fly in her ointment everywhere she turns. The President’s explanation for repossessing the vehicle that was being used by Ms Singh is that she is now a private citizen and thus is not entitled to the use of the state vehicle. This is a clear case of the President going ‘by the book’ in order to justify his atrocious treatment of Varshnie Singh. How convenient. Presumably there is no one else within the PPP hierarchy enjoying the benefits of the state they are not entitled to. And if, by some remote possibility, there happens to be such a person, presumably they have much more important tasks than saving the lives of a couple of children.
Mr Jagdeo has once again exposed himself as arrogant and unapologetically petty. Even if he and his boys cannot comprehend the public relations fiasco they are creating unnecessarily by picking on the soft spoken and seemingly defenceless Ms Singh, surely they would understand that they are bound to lose the confidence to some degree of their female voters. Is the President really telling Guyanese men that once they are out of a relationship with a woman, she is not entitled to even the modicum of decent treatment? Is this the example His Excellency is setting for our husbands? And is he prepared to take the minibus when he demits office? I think not.
I wonder where the voices are of our vociferous women’s rights activists. Does Varshnie Singh not qualify for representation because of her former association with the PPP? And is Minister Manickchand not aware of these transgressions?
Even though she is no longer our First Lady, she is nevertheless entitled to the respect and recognition that she has earned for her selfless work with the Kids First Fund and her status as former First Lady.
Taking all the facts into consideration, I do believe that Mr Jagdeo should put aside his personal peeves and give Ms Singh the help she needs to facilitate her work in a fit of uncharacteristic statesmanship.
I won’t be holding my breath.
Yours faithfully,
Maria Benschop
