Dear Editor,
As a citizen of this dear land of ours, I am often saddened by the level to which we have sunk owing to the manner in which our public administrative systems and agents of the state have made a mockery of our constitutional rights – the hallmark of democracy – all because of mismanagement and corruption.
I am often times brought to tears because of the state of our country due to its destruction by politics. I’m immediately reminded of the recent incident in which Kaieteur News columnist Freddie Kissoon suffered an attack on his person when someone decided to stoop so low that they threw ‘miasmic’ matter into his face because he was exercising his constitutional right to freedom of expression. As a young daughter of this soil I condemn the malicious attack on Mr Kissoon’s person in no uncertain terms. But the question goes far beyond an attack on the columnist. We need to ask ourselves where we are heading as a people.
As a student of journalism, in the classroom we learn so many exciting concepts about freedom of expression and freedom of the press and the fact that these freedoms are guaranteed by article 146 (1) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. The horrors are exposed however when the real world reflects the difficulty in achieving the peaceable enjoyment of our rights. Of course we know that these freedoms come along with responsibilities and give us the right to do, not as we like, but rather what is right, meaning what is within the confines of the law.
Further, it is true that our freedom of expression is limited by the laws of defamation which can cause us to find ourselves before a court of law to answer charges of libel and slander in relation to what we may say about others. This, however, against the backdrop of what has been reported in the news, seems clearly not to have been the violation on the part of Mr Kissoon.
I always wonder why in Guyana everything has to be so political; why can’t we just strive to live in love and unity with our fellow men?
The government builds a road, installs some street lights, provides a community with a potable water supply and the like, and they want to take a bow and sound their trumpets; always looking for a pat on their backs and to stick their thumbs in the air. They are so unnecessarily boastful highlighting every step of the way, ‘Oh look what we have done for the people.’
Oh, for crying out loud. These are things they are supposed to do as the government of the day. They get absolutely no points from me for things they are supposed to do.
I believe that the government can pat themselves on the back and stick their thumbs up and say that they have done something for the people when the separation of powers doctrine as advocated by Montesquieu is allowed to be manifested, catering for every arm of government – the executive, legislative and judiciary to function in an independent manner, free of interference from the other; when we can uphold our constitutional rights like freedom of expression and the like, and when we can actually feel safe to walk our streets knowing that indeed the Guyana Police Force stands by its motto to, ‘Serve and Protect’; and this list is by no means exhaustive.
Which brings me to another point: I’m reminded here by Mr Kissoon’s amazement in one of his articles about a claim that the CID at the Alberttown Police Station had no “point person at Chronicle whom the police can identify” to talk to as it related to his attack. Are the police afraid of the government? Are they unable to execute their duties in a fair and unbiased manner?
For an 83,000 square-mile country with a population of less than a million, fighting over power and politics is something I see as utter nonsense. It is time we come together and work for the greater good of us all. I hope that as the university constantly churns out new batches of academics they have already resolved within their hearts not to be like so many of their predecessors and that they are truly committed to positive change.
If not, I would be inclined to agree with Mr Kissoon when he said, “Guyana is indeed a failed state.”
Yours faithfully,
Femi H Harris
