Dear Editor,
The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) notes that Minister Kellawan Lall, who has been accused of acting in clear violation of the Laws of Guyana in relation to an accident which took place on the East Coast public road on September 4, 2010, has finally found his voice. In his usual arrogant fashion, Lall, in letters published in the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News on Tuesday, September 14, captioned respectively ‘Minister Kellawan Lall explains’ and ‘SN coverage of accident “smacks of yellow journalism”’ attempts to dismiss criticisms levelled against him by a number of persons and organizations, including the WPA.
In breaking his silence on this matter Minister Lall, in keeping with the position fore-ordained by Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, sought to blame the motorcyclist for the accident and in so doing absolved himself of blame for what took place. This should surprise no one. The Minister’s efforts at explaining ‘his side of the story,’ given the time he took to do so, can best be described as another pitiful attempt by a man who is cornered.
WPA stands by the comments contained in its press release of September 8, 2010, four days after the event, that in allegedly fleeing the scene of an accident and failing both to provide assistance to the victim and to make a report to the police, the Minister contemptuously violated the law. His belated, self-serving and pompous explanation of events only underscores his cavalier disregard for the Laws of Guyana, no doubt founded on his own experience of immunity from them.
Minister Lall in his letter had said that “At the end of the day this is not about who is right and who is wrong. Accidents do happen and the police will have to do their work and to establish the facts.”
Remarkably, Commissioner Greene, even while the police were supposed to be doing their work “to establish the facts,” pronounced on Tuesday, September 7, that “it does appear that the other parties were wrong, but we will have to get that from the final evidence.” In such a situation who can have confidence that the police investigation will be fair and respectful of the facts? Are citizens to be treated to yet another show investigation?
Taking into account the GPF’s long record of impotence in dealing with matters of criminal wrongdoing by members of the government and the PPP, citizens are anticipating the usual outcome. Is it any wonder that the country is awash with crime?
In the meantime, Minister Lall continues on his merry path. It is only a matter of time until the next outrage.
Yours faithfully,
Desmond Trotman
Administrator, Rodney House
Working People’s Alliance
