Accusing the PPP/C government of severe human rights abuses, trade union leader Lincoln Lewis has urged former Commonwealth Secretary General Sir Shridath Ramphal to intervene.
In a strongly worded letter to Sir Shridath, dated July 30, 2009, released to Guyanese and Barbadian media, Lewis said the human rights of Guyanese are being eroded under the PPP/C administration, which he accused of extrajudicial murders, state associated death squads and narco-militarism. He referred to the killing and disappearance of hundreds of young black males, whom he alleged were victims of murders and torture for political gains. “Sir Shridath, African Guyanese need your distinguished voice raised to defend their rights which are being violated in Guyana…,” Lewis wrote, while adding that all Guyanese need the support which he could bring to the nation by lending weight to their cries for true democracy, good governance, accountability, justice, the upholding of human rights for all, an end to the lawlessness.
Lewis, the General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) also said he was willing to meet to discuss ways in which the senior Caribbean diplomat could be in service to all the country’s people. “As a young man I was engaged in struggles against previous administrations alongside Dr. [Cheddi] Jagan, the PPP, Walter Rodney and others,” he noted. “The principles, I stood for are still held dear and sacred. They are built on the understanding and respect for human rights and dignity which fundamentals are being trampled on by President (Bharrat) Jagdeo and the PPP” government, Lewis further said.
In his letter, Lewis noted a comment that Sir Shridath made about Barbados’ crackdown on Guyanese during the enforcement of its revised immigration policy, in which he compared the situation to an imitation of “ethnic cleansing.” Lewis charged that the comment was made without compelling evidence.
At the same time, Lewis noted that while Sir Shridath lives in Barbados and is not affected by “the conditions creating turmoil, anguish and desperation of your countrymen,” he should appreciate that the rising number of Guyanese immigrants is a sign of the nation’s failure to provide for its people, and to prevent them from migrating under any conditions. “As the human rights of Guyanese at home continues to be eroded under the Jagdeo/ PPP government, your voice Sir Shridath is not noted as one seeking the relief and upholding of law and order, of justice, and the respect for trade union rights and upholding the constitution,” Lewis wrote. He noted the alleged links between the administration and the confessed drug smuggler Roger Khan as well as the implication of government and law enforcement officials as being associated with Khan.
According to Lewis, the Guyanese landscape is stained with rampant government corruption, money laundering, narco-trafficking, an unharnessed criminal underworld with government connections and support and mismanagement of the affairs of government.
He further said the constitution is being violated with impunity and there is no regard for the separation of powers of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. “The right to freedom of expression, dissent and association is being eroded,” he said, “All Guyanese are living in fear but remain divided by racial tensions”, he added.
