Dear Editor,
Monday’s Guyana Chronicle reported that at a rally in Stewartville, President Jagdeo stated very clearly for all to hear that the law would deal fully with anyone found inciting violence at this time of elections.
The Kaieteur News also carried a report, this time of allegations that Kwame McCoy, Information Liaison to the President, has again been accused of assaulting a civilian, this time with a gun, over the putting up of political posters in a community in Georgetown. I believe this is the same Mr McCoy who has not been asked to step down from the Rights of the Child Commission – the only right and decent thing to do – following allegations of ‘child maltreatment’ against him which should be investigated, leading at least one commissioner to resign from the Commission in protest.
We have seen many allegations on the PPP/C campaign trail of ‘thugs’ and ‘hooligans’ among opposition supporters. People will judge for themselves who has been abusive in public meetings, who has been setting the example with their boorish behaviour on party campaign platforms, inciting supporters in places like Whim and on the Essequibo Coast with vindictive personal attacks, vulgarities, and barely disguised racial slurs against opposition leaders.
Let the people judge what happened at the PPP/C’s meeting in New York where an arrest by the New York police was made.
The PPP/C have been using the word namak haram (traitor) on the campaign trail against those who dare to raise questions about their conduct. Let the people judge why the PPP/C, a national party that at election time should be focusing on winning the hearts and minds of all Guyanese, could come to Toronto and hold an invitation only meeting. Was it to keep all the namak haram out?
I have written before about scaremongering as an instrument that substitutes fear for critical judgement of the PPP/Cs record. People should ask themselves, how much safer are communities after 19 years of this administration? How much safer are fisherfolk in Corentyne?
How many women and children are safer? How many domestic violence perpetrators have been brought to justice? How many murders have been solved and why has this government consistently refused external support if the safety of the Guyanese people is its top priority? Does it have something to hide?
Let the people judge.
In the face of this allegation of the President’s own officer being involved in physical violence on a matter directly related to the elections, we expect that the law will be brought fully to bear on this matter. As Mr Jagdeo said at the Stewartville rally, “You promote violence and we will lock you up.”
Yours faithfully.
Alissa Trotz
