Dear Editor,
“There is nothing to fear but fear itself” – President Franklin D. Roosevelt, during his first inaugural address in 1933 (and one of Satyadeow Sawh’s favourite quotes).
Fifteen years ago, on April 22, 2006, a sitting Minister of the Government of Guyana had his blood spilled at the hands of murderers. Equally, two of his siblings and his security guard (and the family dog, also) were mercilessly slain. Others were badly wounded (most severely, another security guard, the wonderful Mr. Aga Khan) and permanently traumatized. The people of this nation were collectively shaken.
Fifteen years on, and we, the family of the late Satyadeow Sawh, are none the wiser about the motives behind this heinous episode. For the avoidance of doubt, we would like to see an independent inquiry into the intellectual authorship behind the criminal events of April 22, 2006. Almost annually, we have raised a hue and cry for more to be done to unearth answers. Our calls for action have been clarion, unequivocal, apolitical, persistent, passionate, public and private. Indeed, such calls have not been isolated either – most recently, there was an excellent letter by Geoff Da Silva eloquently imploring action and, at various times over the years, prominent leaders from both major parties have publicly expressed support for an inquiry.
Such an inquiry is necessary not only for the families of those who were killed, but also for the nation at large. Indeed, despite the passage of a decade and a half, we are still regularly asked by Guyanese of all stripes, at home and abroad, whether there are any answers about who, what, where, when and, most vigorously, why. At a time when President Ali’s administration is moving apace with a range of laudable projects and initiatives, our family optimistically and tirelessly implores the government (as past administrations have been implored) to put this issue on the front burner. Fifteen years is already too long; the time is now.
There is, after all, nothing to fear but fear itself.
Sincerely,
Roger Sawh
On behalf of the family of the late Satyadeow Sawh
