On the 15th anniversary of the gruesome murder, President Irfaan Ali hailed the service of the late PPP/C Agriculture Minister, Satyadeow `Sash’ Sawh but he was silent on the call for a comprehensive inquiry which the family called for in a letter in yesterday’s Stabroek News.
Sawh’s unsolved murder in 2006 at the height of an unprecedented crime wave where deaths squads were at work has raised searing questions about the PPP/C’s commitment to really learn what had happened.
In his statement yesterday, the President lauded Sawh’s “sterling record of political and public service”.
“‘Sash’, as he was fondly known, lit up every occasion. His effusive and energetic presence was matched by a dedicated work ethic and a hands-on approach to the work of his Ministry. He was a people’s person who served his country unselfishly.
“Mr Satyadeow Sawh will be remembered for his sterling efforts in the struggle for democratic freedoms. While he lived in Canada, he was a tireless political livewire, organising and agitating for the restoration of democracy in Guyana.
“When democracy was restored on the 5th of October 1992, he was asked to serve as Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela. In that post, he rendered distinguished service.
“His efforts were so impressive that he was invited home to assume ministerial responsibilities. Satyadeow Sawh helped to transform the agriculture sector during his tenure”, Ali said.
Referring to Sawh’s murder, the President said “His untimely and tragic death, fifteen years ago, robbed Guyana of a committed patriot whose service to country and to the cause of freedom and democracy is worthy of emulation”.
In his letter in Stabroek News on behalf of the family, Sawh’s son, Roger Sawh lamented that 15 years later relatives were none the wiser over the attack which also claimed the lives of two of the minister’s siblings and a security guard.
“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 … 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”, Roger Sawh said.
