Dear Editor,
Ten years after Independence, in the presence of Dr Jagan and other patriots at the National Park, Forbes Burnham made two significant statements which are of relevance today. First, he said, “We find the enemy at the door, there is no time or place for petty differences – these we can cerebrate and settle later.” Second, he intoned, “Success and progress for us must be an absolute, rather than a relative concept. Ours must be the pursuit of perfections. We must aim at the stars, not at the earthy mountain tops.”
The present social and political conditions in Guyana demand in the first instance for all of our political leaders neither influenced by, nor a part of the ruling hegemonistic elite, to stand together. This is now a matter of urgency. Our business, civil and religious leaders need end their diffidence and form a common platform to remove this sword of Damocles, now hanging over our collective heads – a dangerous and uncomfortable condition. I hope others will join as some of us continue efforts to repair the battered moral fabric of our society.
This coming together of concerned and decent citizens ought to be non-negotiable. Today, we note the crocodile tears of high government functionaries on this recent torture report. The uncouth, unacceptable cruel behaviour of certain sections of our security forces is not new. This regime and our Minister of Home Affairs cannot pretend they were not aware of these atrocities over the past few years taking place under their watch. Recall it prompted a senior Minister to deliver his infamous remark in Parliament that it was merely “roughing up.”
Take a bet, if the Kaieteur News had not obtained that photo it would have been business as usual – denials and platitudes as these beastly acts continued unabated, clearly sanctioned by our current political directorate.
On visits to South Georgetown, the East Bank and lower East Coast a particular ethnic group of young men seem to be the target of these assaults and mistreatment. The majority who complain to me, feel it will be a waste of time to complain to anyone in authority. The records will not show the excesses committed almost daily – the known examples of ‘Skinny’ Ryan Gordon, ‘Biscuit’ Patrick Sumner and a host of others are just the tip of the iceberg.
Apart from the horror stories not reported, but told to some of us, my own experience at CID headquarters tells a simple story of a set of police on a path of barbarism and deception. Recall how one of them, reading from a piece of paper recapping what I said just a few moments before, mentioned Lusignan and President Jagdeo, neither of which I said and indeed did not even cross my mind, when asked about what Oliver Hinckson said at City Hall.
It is this type of thinking that this administration has wittingly or not, created. It is this mindset, a sort of myopia, that leads to the torturing of a mere child. I suppose the Commissioner could not find the time to find out why this happened. It is clearly unprofessional behaviour by his ranks.
Related to all this is, how are we as a people to overcome this curse set upon us by satanic forces. I plead with all citizens who are fair-minded to not allow this and other matters to be swept under the carpet. I know this is a challenge to us all in circumstances where the PPP government has control of 90% of the media and therefore control what we are told and led to believe. Do not expect this and other letters to appear in the Guyana Times or Guyana Chronicle.
Finally we see a clear pattern, notwithstanding the statements by some ministers of government. This behaviour is now standard and, I repeat, they would have had nothing to say if the KN had not published that photo.
We see a clear pattern of a government seemingly wedded to coercion. Note how our President was anxious to impose the likes of Bernard Kerik on our security services and the Guyanese public – luck was on our side, that his unethical behaviour pattern was exposed.
Yes we must avoid this type of response and seek perfection.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, JP