Dear Editor,
The ability to conduct an effective Preliminary Inquiry (PI) in an effective, efficient and timely manner is the foundation on which the entire criminal justice system should be built. If the state is unable to prove there is a prima facie case with enough evidence to proceed in a court of law, then the state does not have the moral authority to keep someone locked up in jail for years to hide their inability to conduct a proper crime investigation. Justice delayed is justice denied, and this is exactly what happened to Justin John who was allowed to languish in the lock-up for 7 years without a fair hearing until Justice Roxane George got involved. It is unfair that the state should accuse a person of a misdeed and then when called upon to provide the evidence, it cannot provide this in a timely manner.
It was reported in 2010 that the following eight known accused and however many more unknown accused, had been languishing in the lock-ups for years without any action: Burt Lancaster, admitted in 2006; Nigel Forrester, admitted in 2005; Squince McLennon, admitted in 2004; Kensie Glasgow, admitted in 2005; Dexter Headley, admitted in 2006; Peter Ray Kassim, admitted in 2005; Chandrapaul Chatram, admitted in 2007; Aubrey Crawford, admitted in 2004.
How can it be possible in a society that President Donald Ramotar defined as a “parliamentary democracy” persons with serious criminal allegations against them walk the streets of Guyana free, yet this same state is unresponsive to the human rights of others?
The majority political opposition owes it to this nation to ensure that the criminal justice system is cleaned up and that professionalism and adherence to the rule of law return to the offices of law and order. The PI process must be an issue for inquiry in the 10th Parliament.
I call on First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar as a mother, a sister and a woman, to demand timely and fair trials for those Guyanese men and women who have been incarcerated for lengthy periods without a PI, and if they are found guilty by the courts of law, I will be the first to join in the choir of voices demanding maximum sentences for them. However, to have them languishing in jail without any concrete collection of evidence is just not acceptable. On a position of principle, it is the responsibility of the police prosecutors and the DPP Chambers to speedily produce the evidence to take all of these persons to trial and prove beyond a shadow of doubt that they deserve to be in jail.
Yours faithfully,
Sasenarine Singh
