Dear Editor,
It is now a month since the Lusignan massacre. If this was not enough the Bartica incident has certainly jolted the nation. There is obviously a lot of concern for the survivors and it is time that we help them on their own terms.
Interviews with them have revealed that most would like to leave Guyana as they still have a well-founded fear that this is not over for them even if there are no more attacks.
The laws and procedures already exist to fulfil their wishes. This also gives an opportunity for all individuals and agencies concerned about their welfare to participate in the process.
Once it can be ascertained that anyone directly affected by recent killings wants to leave Guyana the following steps are suggested:
The many government agencies that visit them daily should facilitate the expeditious issuance of passports and other relevant travel documents,
The government should also assist in providing documentary proof that they are related to the victims
The Canadian, and American visa officers or those of any country which is a signatory of the United Nations Charter should consider their applications as Persons in need of Protection and process them either as Refugees or on humanitarian grounds.
If an undertaking to assist them to settle in the host country is necessary then relatives abroad should be contacted first to satisfy the requirement. As an alternative any religious or social organization should be allowed to undertake to assist the applicants on their arrival in the host country.
This process is not new. The only question is whether the circumstances are such that these measures should be applied.
In 1984 Guyanese who made refugee claims in Canada numbered 1,426, the highest in the world ahead of countries like Iran and Sri Lanka. About 27% of those were successful on the merits. Thousands of others were allowed to remain on other grounds. Many of them now run successful businesses even though they may have left Guyana with $75 (Can) because of poverty and foreign currency regulations Initially they were helped by friends and relatives until they became economically self sufficient. Few, if any, would argue that the state’s ability to protect the citizens in Guyana today has improved since the 1980s. There is overwhelming documentary evidence that safety and security concerns have dominated events since 1992 and the fear is no longer restricted to certain corridors.
Guyanese overseas want to help and have expressed themselves in different ways. People of all races, religions and political persuasions have prayed together, some have organized petitions while others have sympathised and criticised with anger.
Where they are united however is in their willingness to open their homes, their temples, churches and mosques to enable anyone affected by the ongoing tragedy to settle abroad if that is their intent.
It is important that the media be a watchdog in this process for many of the survivors are minors, and farmers who will need help with paper work and if any agency is unwilling or unable to cut through the red tape this should be revealed.
We need to do this for ourselves as we express the Universality of the Spirit that unites all mankind.. Perhaps we can leave the debate as to when this hatred started and who is more responsible than whom for another time.
If there is anyone who thinks that the fears of the survivors are not valid or if no legal system exists to give them the protection they need then let us debate that.
Right now let us give governments, businesses, religious groups, relatives and friends the opportunity to protect, employ, comfort and revive the hopes of these innocent victims.
Yours faithfully,
Ramnarine Sahadeo
Barrister and Solicitor,
Canada