Dear Editor,
On October 7, 2013, I wrote a letter to this newspaper entitled ‘A million dollars is not enough for families of cops who die in the line of duty.’ I asked the leaders of Guyana to do more for the police officers and soldiers who had died in the line of duty. According to my research, the family of a policeman or soldier who died in the line of duty receives only one million Guyana dollars, which I think is a mediocre and unacceptable compensation for the deceased and their family. Little did I know when I wrote that letter that one of my own family members, who was a policeman would be the next one to die in the line of duty.
Lance Corporal Sherwin Pantlitz was my cousin. He died in Middle Street during the recent killings. From what I read about the killing, Sherwin was courageous, brave and a hero. By taking on the gunman, Sherwin saved many more lives. He died so that others didn’t have to die. That is what made him a hero.
Today, I had a conversation with my 11-year-old daughter. I told her that I wanted all my children to serve their country by serving in the military like I did. She told me that she didn’t want to serve in the military because she didn’t want to die in the war. I told her that I served in the war, and I was willing to die for my country to make it a better country for others. She said, “Let someone else die.” She wasn’t willing to make the sacrifice to die for others.
As our conversation progressed, I told her that if Dr Martin Luther King had not died, she wouldn’t have been able to attend the school that she currently attends because blacks and whites weren’t allowed to attend the same school. Dr King died so that black children can get the same opportunities as white children. I told her if Dr King didn’t die, I wouldn’t have been able to get the job I had and gotten the pay that I received. Dr King died so that blacks and whites could work together and so that blacks could get equal pay with whites.
I explained her that if Dr King didn’t die, we wouldn’t have been living in the house we are living in because whites and blacks weren’t allowed to live together. Dr King died so that blacks and whites can live together. I was trying to teach my daughter that someone has to die so that others can have a much better life. I wanted her to be one of the people who was willing to die so that others can have a better life. I realize that I cannot force this opinion upon others, but it is for that reason that I joined the military and was willing to die so that others can have a better life.
However, Sherwin did it. He did exactly what I was trying to teach my daughter. He gave his life so that others can have a better life. Who knows how many more people the gunman would have killed, if Sherwin didn’t try to stop him. This is why I said he was a hero. He was willing to risk his own life to engage the shooter.
In my previous letter, I asked the leaders of Guyana to at least give a house to every fallen policeman/soldier who died in the line a duty. In the letter, I noted that the Government of Guyana gives a house to every boxer who wins a world championship title. Which is the greater sacrifice, winning a championship belt or paying the ultimate sacrifice for your country?
I ask the Leaders of Guyana again to please do the right thing and immediately reward with a house the families of these fallen officers and every future fallen officer/soldier who dies in the line of duty. I am sure every member of the opposition and government will agree on this suggestion.
Yours faithfully,
Anthony Pantlitz
