Dear Editor,
I left politics three years ago and I am not associated with, or member of any political party. I also made a vow not to publicly discuss anything to which I was privy during my 6 years in politics, unless events forced me to do so. For this reason, I have remained silent on recent issues involving members of my former party the PNCR, even though there have been public calls for me to make some form of comment.
During the time I spent with the PNCR, I supported the duo of Robert Corbin and Winston Murray as the leaders of the party and continued to do so even when they were confronted with challenges by 3 different groups. My support included rallying support among party members, as well as among well-wishers in the wider Guyanese community. I have no regrets for my decisions then.
I am, however, very surprised at some recent positions taken by the leadership duo on a number of issues, particularly as it relates to ceaseless attacks against the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force and the Commissioner of Police. The most recent is the broadside levelled against Mr Henry Greene by Mr Corbin in which he stated at a press conference that he was not consulted on Mr Greene’s appointment, and had he been consulted, it would have provided the opportunity for clarifications, “so that any cloud hanging over anyone would have been cleared and put one in a better position to know whether one supports the appointee or not.” He also said that “there were certain concerns in the public mind” about Mr Greene.
I do not know if Mr Corbin was consulted or not; it is for the President and the PPP/C administration to answer those claims. But what I do know is that Mr Greene has been an outstanding acting Commissioner of Police. Along with his colleague Cmdr Gary Best of the Guyana Defence Force they have been able to forestall further criminal conduct that gripped this country and affected all Guyanese regardless of political affiliation or ethnic origin. From all appearances they received support from the government for which President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Minister Clement Rohee should be given full credit.
The PNCR could have gained tremendous public accolade had it been more forthcoming with its condemnation of the crime spree and unequivocal support of the efforts of the Joint Services. Instead it equivocated and now has gone really overboard by raising questions on the credibility of the newly appointed Commissioner of Police.
The reasons that Mr Corbin proffered for not mounting a challenge to the appointment of Mr Greene is not that that he did not contemplate doing so but as he says, “because looking at the time that the Commissioner has to retire it would be an exercise in futility.”
The argument that the appointment was unconstitutional, even if it contains any merit, must be juxtaposed against the spirit of the constitution as the supreme law of the land, that is, it is there to protect all citizens, and must not be a millstone on the necks of decision-makers or be used as an instrument to oppose for the sake of opposing. Any credible opposition, as well as government, must seek to support creative initiatives that help progress, engender confidence, make a society safer and bring peace and harmony. When political opposition leaders or government leaders no longer perform such functions they should do the honourable thing − retire, rather than become an embarrassment.
In closing, I wish all Guyanese a happy, peaceful productive 2009. I would like to congratulate Commissioner Henry Greene and wish him and all the hardworking police officers a successful 2009.
Yours faithfully,
Jerome Khan
