Dear Editor,
I refer to Dr Randy Persaud’s article titled ‘The PNCR Congress and a note to Mr L Lewis’ (GC, August 13). From the outset let me say Persaud’s right to freedom of speech is not only endorsed in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, where he is resident, but also in the Guyana Constitution, Article 146 (1) which allows him to express his views freely in the Guyana media. It is a right duly accorded and must be respected, regardless. Sadly, it is a right not accorded to all Guyanese.
On Wednesday July 15, 2009, Mark Benschop, Norris Witter and myself were arrested by the police and placed in the Brickdam lock-up for exercising that very right Persaud takes for granted. On that fateful day we were acting in accordance with our right to free speech by expressing our disappointment over the tyrannical state of affairs in Guyana and calling on the government to correct same. Since we were locked up while exercising our rights, and individuals and organizations (named and unnamed) have spoken out against the transgression, it follows that we would express gratitude for their fearless stand.
In making democracy the central argument of his article Dr Persaud utilized the thoughts of Lispet and Lankin (2004). In addition to Lispet and Lankin, the words of President Barack Obama should also be noted. Speaking on democracy in 2009 the Leader of the Free World said: “This is about more than just holding elections. It’s also about what happens between elections. Repression can take many forms, and too many nations, even those that have elections, are plagued by problems that condemn their people to poverty. No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or if police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 per cent off the top, or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there. And now is the time for that style of governance to end.”
Were note to be taken of President Obama’s pronouncements, Guyana would be found wanting. It also suggests to those committed to democracy why we cannot stop now and must continue the struggle!
From a historical standpoint the greatness of America or any society is not its laws; it’s the willingness of its people to selflessly sacrifice to make it possible for others. In this regard we are reminded of Cuffy, Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, the Freedom Riders, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, et al, who struggled, and some of whom paid the ultimate price. We pay homage to these brothers and sisters and would like to encourage Dr Persaud, a beneficiary of these sacrifices, to join those engaged in struggles to spread freedom, justice and democracy around the world. For as the Rev Dr Martin Luther King reminded us, “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
