Dear Editor,
We, the undersigned, are outraged and saddened by the senseless murder of Mr Courtney Crum-Ewing on Tuesday, March 10 in Diamond, EBD. Mr Crum-Ewing was most brutally gunned down while performing a civic duty for his country, that is, engaging in the political process of Guyana. His engagement took the form of encouraging Guyanese citizens to exercise their right to self-determination.
The right to self-determination is a most basic human right that is embraced by all Guyanese regardless of political affiliation. This is what was fought for and won through independence from Britain.
We are reminded of the words of Dr Martin Luther King: “The first thing we must do here tonight is to decide we are not going to become panicky. That we are going to be calm, and we are going to continue to stand up for what is right. Fear not, we’ve come too far to turn back.” Therefore, we call for peace. We call for swift and just actions to be taken against the perpetrator(s) of Mr Crum-Ewing’s senseless murder. We call for all political leaders to dial back their vitriol particularly at this sensitive juncture.
We raise our voices as one to express our heartfelt condolence to the family and friends of Mr Crum-Ewing. We raise our voices as one because we feel particularly aggrieved by this wanton act of violence. We raise our voices as one out of love and loyalty to our beloved country. We ask all Guyanese to join us as we publicly and privately repudiate violence and intimidation.
We are and will continue to be – regardless of our gender, race, religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, geography – guided in our actions, in part, by Martin Niemöller’s famous poem:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
May the soul of Mr Courtney Crum-Ewing rest in peace.
Yours faithfully,
Mohammed Karimullah 1968-
1976
Nathilee Caldeira 1979-1986
Ronald Caleb 1972-1974
Karen Wharton 1976-1981
Mark Kirton
Bryn Bowen
Louis London 1966-1972
Keith Wilson
Corinne Locke 1975-1982
Compton Saywack 1967-1972
Alissa Trotz
Fairbairn Liverpool 1962-1965
Hugh Hamilton 1971-1977
Lloyd Houston
Neville Burke 1998-2004
Dominic Gaskin
Gordon Williams
Diane West 1986-1988
Kamal Dookie 1964-1971
Raphael Lindo
Leyland Grant
Michael Harris 1964-1971
John Rickford 1960-1967
Eden Gajraj 1954-1961
Adam Harris 1960-1966
Vibert Cambridge 1955-1961
Alfred Granger 1964-1971
John Campbell 1974-1981
Terrence Blackman
Jemel Liverpool 1995-2001
Ian Carto 1966-1972
Gordon Wilson
Michelle Mickle-Foster 1977-1983
Louis Kilkenny
Shondel Nero
Lance Chase
Patrick Stephens
Frank Douglas 1959-1962
Mortimer London 1962-1969
Dane Hartley
Jerome Branche 1967-1972
Vonetta Edwards 1990-1997
Edward Meertins-George
Vishnu Mahadeo 1975-1977
Dawn Holder
Darlene Walcott 1998-2005
Saran Nurse 1985-1990
Ronald Moore 1980
Aubrey Smith 1961-1969
Trevor Grant 1964-1971
Paul Montague (Kojo Nnamdi) 1956-1963
Frank Denbow 1967-1974
Clairmont Chung