Dear Editor,
Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Ivan Lewis are now martyrs to Guyana’s version of independent and republican democracy. While the rest of the world was celebrating Mandela’s birthday on July 18, part of Guyana was infuriated and shocked as the police continued their proud legacy of not being able to recognise humanity in those that they encounter.
And as a further symptom of our proud legacy of independence and civilization, the words ‘unfortunate’ and ‘tragic’ are used to describe what is in fact brutal, sickening and deserving of immediate sanctions. And the victims, we are told, are to blame. They chose to be in the line of live bullet rounds the narrative goes, and the ones to blame are the ‘instigators’ – like how Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan are to blame for the police killing of the Enmore Martyrs?
And then the police in a press statement say that there was no political involvement; in other words they are firm that they know who did not issue the orders to shoot the people. A Kaieteur News article of July 20 is headlined ‘Relatives of Linden dead cry for justice‘ (and not a government of national unity or any other thing). Justice, which has been denied to many who have suffered at the hands of the police. The public though, wants to know, not who did not give the orders, but rather who gave the orders. They want to know from the police what action is being taken about justice for those who were killed by the police.
Minister Rohee has refused to reform the Guyana Police Force, instead preferring to lament the corruption and the inefficiencies without taking much action. There are calls for Minister Rohee to go, but to be replaced by whom? Another minister who will continue a policy of believing that the police are not accountable to the people they are supposed to serve and protect? And President Ramotar in holding on to Minister Rohee is telling us that under his leadership we will continue to expect the demoralisation of the police, the continued lack of confidence in the police to deliver on their mandate. The police who might think that they have a different view are going to be further silenced. We are told that we cannot expect to have a police service which can find humane ways of dealing with crowds and alleged criminals and victims of rape and domestic violence.
Nelson Mandela said: “Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfil themselves.” Some of us do not believe this is possible for Guyana, or are happy to accept and to complain silently, or deny that there are problems, or blame others who are just as oppressed as they are.
Others though, who wish to dream for a just and equitable society, and stand up for this, are not supposed to be killed by the police.
Justice for Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Ivan Lewis cannot just be about long-winded commissions of enquiry which may or may not end up in charges and disciplinary action. Justice for Ron Somerset, Shemroy Bouyea and Ivan Lewis must also include a commitment to a reform of the Guyana Police Force and the other related agencies; and to an overhaul of how we view each other as Guyanese.
Yours faithfully,
Vidyaratha Kissoon
