Dear Editor,
The vicious and hateful murders of two Afro-Guyanese teenagers has undoubtedly sent shockwaves throughout the country and has shone another light on the state of affairs in our society.
It is said that adversity builds character so let us remain calm and look to see how the government and judicial process handle this heinous crime.
Its timing is shattering, coming on the heels of political and social upheaval which had prevailed for almost the past two years. It has revealed the emphasis that needs to be placed on the areas of religion, ethnic unity, education and an efficient and well equipped police force. The laws and penalties related to murder, physical attacks and abuse need to be immediately examined and longer prison sentences imposed. This might be a bugbear for a government, as having people incarcerated is expensive. Our prison is presently not well financed and in a deplorable state with a paucity of activities and amenities. However, it will be money well spent and such action should serve as a deterrent to psychopaths such as the murderers of these boys. I support Nigel Hughes’s suggestion that we recruit the best investigators from overseas and all the technical help we can get to find the criminals. He could even use the auspices of his legal profession and law offices to contribute to this recruitment. Furthermore, it behoves us to discover the motives behind this barbaric assault and gruesome murders and to develop ways to thwart any similar actions in the future.
The effects of political and consequently and regrettably ethnic division, need to be addressed by the Ethnic Relations Committee. Hate speeches (some of which occur on the Internet) should be dealt with harshly and physical and verbal abuse within our society, strongly combatted.
It ought to be considered that the abysmal murders of these two teenagers have occurred not long after the swearing in of our new President and his Cabinet. It may have been the intention in the diabolical minds of the perpetrators, to create racial strife and social unrest. Now is the opportunity for the government to use all the resources that exist to counter the divisive actions of these criminals and monumentally reduce, if not eliminate, racial and political disharmony. The government in collaboration with the judicial system need to send a strong message to evildoers planning similar acts.
The savagery of the attacks, in my opinion, maybe displays the characters of people who have killed others before and were not just motivated by race hate. I would think that most of us eagerly await the serving of justice for the lives barely lived, of Joel and Isaiah. To their parents, siblings, relatives, friends and others who will undoubtedly miss them, my deep expression of sorrow.
Yours faithfully,
Conrad Barrow
