Dear Editor,
Often times one sits and wonders aloud about the state of mind of some who sit at the helm of institutions, corporations, organisations, etc, vested with full authority and the prerogative to “call the shots”.
I especially want to single out once again those within the judiciary who sit in command of invariably sensitive and highly loaded responsibilities, special and sometimes envious privilege; which is the dispensing of justice, of equating punishment to the alleged crime. They hold in their hands the power of decision – sometimes of life and death, which bears down heavily upon shapes and determines greatly what society becomes based on their verdict as they decide the fate of the accused standing before them.
Editor, my thoughts with respect to this question were triggered after reading in the Stabroek News of Tuesday August 20th 2016: “Man charged with causing wife’s death in bike accident.” As reported, “Almost five months since losing his wife after the motorcycle they were travelling on was hit by a car, a man found himself being charged with causing her death.” It further stated that he was charged with riding an unregistered motor vehicle causing her death.
The report sadly informed us also that at the time of the accident the couple was on their way to find their son after they discovered he was missing.
It stands to reason that any parent upon receiving such news would take a chance and not be bothered about his/her motorbike not being registered. Under such a situation that just will not be considered as a priority over and above their child. The man himself according to the report underwent surgery for injuries he sustained to his leg.
Editor, I cannot figure out why this man was charged for causing the accident when they were the ones who were hit by a car resulting in him losing his wife. It came through as if because the bike was unregistered, his wife died. To boot, after all that agony, funeral expenses, surgery, eight and one year old children now to take care of all alone, he was placed on $200,000 bail and required to lodge his passport to prevent him from escaping! Boy, I tell you, some of these people dispensing justice are so mechanical, cold and insensitive. I really questioned the judgement of these people.
Now digest this. A young woman Malinda Beaton, 31, a mother with five children is jailed for 18 months for robbery after sex. A man made a deal with this woman, took her to his apartment for a fun time, had his fill then she disappeared into the sunset. He awoke and found his money was missing, the woman admitted to taking it because she has five children to care for – case closed. Editor, I’m here in total agreement with Mr. Hamilton Green, bigger folks steal and kill for millions and the process takes forever before finally it’s dismissed: “we men must know that there is a price for our adventures . . . . justice must take all factors into account.”
Now we read of another unfortunate incident, also in the SN concerning a member of the Guyana Police Force. In the SN of August 31st 2016 under the caption “Police Officer shot on the job has reconstructive surgery,” we read: “The GPF has facilitated reconstructive surgery for one of its members who was shot to the head last year, free of cost”. The report stated that policeman Victor Fausette was booking an assailant when a confrontation occurred and he was shot in the head. “The GPF has absorbed all expenses for Fausette and supports his family as he continues his recovery . . .”
Editor, this is commendable and I think all will agree this was/is the proper thing for any organization to do for any of its members who has been such a victim – splendid.
Now let’s shift gears a bit here and juxtapose this story about Lukeisha Clarke and Althea McPherson with that of police officer Victor Fausette, two young women who were shocked and burnt by a live electrical wire, October 10th last year. The two young women were standing together when they heard an explosion and saw an electrical cable overhead on fire. They started to run but the cable fell and entangled them. They both fell on the road unconscious. This was as a result of actions by a member of the GPF on duty. Clarke who was seven months pregnant at the time suffered severe burns and was admitted to the hospital. She underwent a series of skin grafts. Not only did she lose her job but so too did her mother who was forced to leave her job to take care of her. McPherson was unable to walk because she sustained burns on her feet and has been on sick leave from her job as a security officer – her only source of income by which to take care of her two children. She had to be going to the hospital daily for treatment which was financially stressful. Neither the policeman who caused their distress or any other official of the GPF visited them to inquire about anything, their condition or else. Now just as police officer Fausette sustained injuries inflicted by an unruly citizen and was rightfully taken care of by the state, conversely citizens ought to be taken care of by the state whenever they are accidentally injured by the police in the course of duty. Those two young women were treated as if they don’t belong through no fault of theirs, these are the things that make people become bitter. Do people in authority sleep at ease? The treatment given to that police officer as against that meted out to Lukeisha Clarke and Althea McPherson is the very antithesis of fairness, equality and justice. Boy oh boy poor folks have got to learn the art of walking between the rain drops.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
