Dear Editor,
Recent parliamentary developments involving a sitting Minister of the Government and a lawmaker (believe it or not) have tarnished others, who were there and heard him. They cannot plead innocence of absence, the protection of distance. These four daughters of Guyana, part of the PPP sorority, failed their female comrades in Guyana, and all female Guyanese. Nothing is expected of three, but I single out the Minister of Human Services, somebody for whom I have some regard, who has failed females (and males), when she found a safe harbour in silence, when she had to rise up, speak out, and separate herself from the chaff that is part of political life in Guyana, be it with females or males, but refused to do so.
The Minister of Human Services has been in the vanguard of positive actions on such fronts as gender-based violence, particularly against women. She has taken steps to offer more protection to children, the abused, and the weak. I have repeatedly hailed her efforts publicly, for I detect that she meant well and did well. I am not one to withhold commendations when they have been earned. It is not the Speaker who made a mockery through his many travesties inside the once august National Assembly; it will take eternity to recover from his blatant farces and failures. When this is considered, the Minister of whatever smeared not hated political opponents, but those women colleagues on his side, for whom he may (or may not) have some regard. For the Minister of Human Services to turn a blind eye, and pretend to possess a deaf ear does not redound to her favour. At certain times, when lines are crossed, there are no comrades, only one’s conscience.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
