Dear Editor,

Sisters, Patentia, Wales are all communities on the left or east bank of the Demerara River. They have made their contributions to Guyana’s story. I remember Albert Weeks of the late forties and later. The inter-racial relations were for the most part at that time mature. Some of today’s bullies have never heard of him, but they are reaping benefits from his work.

When therefore we hear of child murder by the forces of the lawless, memories come back.

I am doing my duty as an observer of the political situation in Guyana. I have not been a neutral observer. I remain true to the social objectives I was moved to write in songs for the PPP, the PNC and the WPA. Those songs spoke of “the red flag,” of people “from field and office, factory” and in that order, and finally of “working people all” and of “people’s power.”

Of the many current things that I have not said a word on, the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Kelvin Fraser takes first place. There is no doubt what people think of the slaughter of this youth, shot at close range like a dangerous wild animal. An unarmed youth shot at close range very likely could have been arrested.

I shall comment on the attempt made on Dr David Hinds’s reputation, but since he is house people and the government cannot manipulate now what it did then, I wish to deal with the case of the late Kelvin Fraser.

I am aware of the allegations made against young males standing outside the school at Patentia. These are allegations of ugly and offensive conduct against young female students. If as we are told this offence is a regular practice the names of the offenders and their identities should be known to the police. When we had a police force, they would first be warned or given guidelines and watched.

The police rank suspected of doing the shooting must be prosecuted for murder. It was not a secret shooting. It was not accidental. It was not unintended. He was not shot while the policeman was hunting. He was shot while the policeman was shooting him. The autopsy report has been studied and reported. There are reports that witnesses are being intimidated. All the elements of murder seem to be present. The police and the DPP need no further advice. The right of the citizen to make a private prosecution in the courts still remains, although DPPs of both regimes have tried to shoot it out of existence in the most high-handed way. They separate the letter of the law from the spirit of the law.  Perhaps Dr Luncheon, the mystifier of all of state offences, is already preparing his press statement in which he will prove the brilliance of PPP/C ballistics.

I thank all those students who turned out to protest the shooting of their schoolmate, and especially those people from Georgetown who rushed across the river and gave their solidarity to people in those places far away from the city and the press centres. Mr Freddie Kissoon, Mr Benschop, Mr David Hinds and less famous people like the students and others who came out to register their disgust, deserve our gratitude for denouncing the fatal bullying.

I have read the allegations against young men who moved into the school compound and behaved offensively to females. This reminds me that the social work graduates of the University of Guyana are perhaps the most unrecognized graduates ever. Yet, if they are half like those I knew years ago, the country needs them badly for its human development.

There is more to say on how the ruling party handled this crisis on the ground. I can well understand Mr Freddie Kissoon’s disgust. He did not overstate the case as some might suppose.

I also hope to reflect seriously and in the light of  the facts whether  in my opinion he is justified  in alerting the country to what he sees as fascist trends at the centre.

Yours faithfully,
Eusi Kwayana