Dear Editor,
It is no secret Freddie Kissoon is one of the government’s fiercest critics and trains most of his public critiques on the administration. In democratic societies these views will be allowed to exist alongside others. In anti-democratic Guyana there is a growing intolerance for anyone who dares to question, challenge and think outside the box. As such the cowardly and physical attack on his person while rightfully condemned by several individuals and institutions has to be addressed and dealt with within the growing social degeneracy and political intolerance of human rights and the rule of law that has seen this country reaching its nadir. Mr Kissoon wears many public hats. He is a newspaper columnist, academic and the Vice Chairman of the University of Guyana Workers Union and has been able to marry his roles in his analyses of society. The fact that he holds the government responsible for the job it is doing is regrettably being interpreted by this administration and its cohorts as being anti-PPP rather than a citizen’s civic responsibility to hold government accountable.
The nation continues to witness individuals, including the Head of State, engaging in behaviour that is developing a growing intolerance for evidence, accountability, the rule of law, equal rights and justice. There is also information in the public domain of Mr Kissoon being singled out for verbal attacks by President Jagdeo and his men. This growing anti-democratic culture and destructive politics that continue to play out in this society must come to an end. A failure to stand up for what is right is to encourage the lawless to repeat their activities.
The attacks on the rights of some citizens, be it freedom of expression, association, collective bargaining, participation in national decision-making, economic equality and justice are increasing with each passing day, and the time is nigh for every law-abiding Guyanese to stand up and be his/her brother’s keeper.
Usually it is government by virtue of its role that gives leadership to society through its policies, behaviour and laws. It is time for us to collectively tell this government to lead by example and buckle down to creating the society where we can all peacefully co-exist, by stopping its acts of aggression and injustices against the people.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
