Dear Editor,
The killing of 91-year-old Mr Adolphus James, the Linden security guard while on duty is an indictment of our entire society. It is criminal that a Guyanese of such advanced age had to work a night shift to eke out a subsistence life.
As we Guyanese celebrate and salute a President who has rewarded himself with one of the world’s most generous post-retirement pension packages equivalent to millions of tax-free dollars while still in his forties, let us not forget that the pay which the Jagdeo administration considers adequate for a guard working an eight-hour shift is $800 per shift.
And as the Minister of Human Services, Ms Priya Manickchand and the Minister of Labour, Mr Manzoor Nadir join with the country’s most famous Bishop to celebrate Mr Jagdeo, my hope is that they will spare a moment to reflect on the struggles which Mr James endured until his last moments as he laboured for his living and his life.
Yours faithfully,
Christopher Ram
