Dear Editor,
I wasn’t sure I wanted to reply to the ridiculous concerns raised by the PNCR’s chairman, and MP for the APNU, Basil Williams (`It was not the people of Linden’ SN Friday, October 5th, 2012.) However, having discussed the matter with a few of my ‘sidekicks’ we have concluded that a simple reply to the day-dreaming ‘politician’ will eventually shed some light on the truth. On the day in question, scores of Lindeners (including victims of police brutality) voiced their concerns about the lack of representation coming from the Top Brass of the APNU, including Mr. Williams.
In fact, so dissatisfied and fed up with the leadership, residents ignored the ‘lights, camera and action’ mentality which is usually the modus operandi of the likes of Williams, and they opted to show gratitude and respect to their Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon by shouting “this is we president.” I guess Williams didn’t like being thrown off the centre of attraction, since the cameras weren’t running in his direction. It’s an indisputable fact that Williams was hardly ever in the mining town before or even after the one month protest, he merely wanted to score cheap political points, which backfired on his ego.
Basil Williams needs to accept and face reality: (1) the APNU messed up on the TORs, which excluded two important days of police brutality, and possible compensation for the victims who were injured during those two days. (2) The APNU is alleged to have contributed to the rising frustrations of Lindeners by having ‘secret talks’ with the PPP on the issue of increased electricity tariffs, and (3) Williams must inform the public why he waited until a few days before the start of the Linden Commission of Inquiry before hastily rushing to Linden to take statements from a few relatives of the three deceased (when prominent attorney, Mr. Nigel Hughes did that from day 1.) His rather weak cross-examinations of the witnesses is sufficient evidence of how unprepared he is for the Commission of Inquiry.
In closing, Williams and the APNU need to stop playing politics with the people of Linden, and ensure they join with others who are genuinely seeking justice. Long live the people of Region #10… the dictatorial ways of these politicians should not be tolerated, cause we can’t seek to remove one set of dictators and replace them with a fresh bunch.
Yours faithfully,
Mark Anthony
Benschop
