Dear Editor,
When the history of Guyana is written, objective historians will conclude that the Guyana Human Rights Association has made, over the past five decades, historic, landmark contributions to the quest for good governance and fairness in Guyana. The GHRA archives are there for any objective person to see this. I have a good set of their documentation among my papers. In philosophy, law, and science, evidence is the decisive criterion. It should also be in politics. I have followed the GHRA and participated in its activities since its inception, under the Chairmanship of the late trade unionist, Mr. Gordon Todd, a fervent champion of human rights. The GHRA has always had a membership base, an Executive Committee, Thematic Reports, Annual Reports, Annual Meetings, and Auditors’ Reports. Its public statements have executive committee approval. The GHRA built its Guyana Human Rights Centre with membership contributions. It maintains it with membership contributions. I have in my possession Maintenance Certificates Nos. 516 and 517 from 2004, bought for $200.00 each!!!
Over the years, the GHRA has waged campaigns and published well-researched reports on issues such as: constitutional governance and fair elections, equality and fairness in ethnic relations, the rights of women and children, and the rights of Indigenous People, protection of the environment, and climate change, and many other topics. The GHRA has helped to promote understanding about human rights in the country and has consistently run courses for members of the police and for prison officials on how to ensure respect for human rights. When needed, the GHRA speaks out against documented violations of human rights – invariably not to the liking of the government of the day. This has been a labour of service, of value, of duty, and of courage. The country owes a debt of gratitude to the GHRA.
When foodstuff was in deep shortage in Guyana under a previous administration, I participated in a two-day event on the protection of economic, social and cultural rights that the GHRA organized in the Undercroft of St. George’s Cathedral. Those were dark times, and the GHRA stood at the forefront of defending human rights, as it has always done. Please let me repeat: the evidence for all of the above is at the Guyana Human Rights Centre: the records, the documentation, and the auditors’ reports. The Guyana Human Rights Centre has probably one of the best archival collections on the history of Guyana for the past five decades. Perhaps the History Department of the University of Guyana will get its graduate students to research, and write about this evidence. Hopefully, the philosophical, legal and political commentators will see fit to consult and study the evidence.
One thing is clear: the evidence is there for historians to conclude that the GHRA has made remarkable, historic contributions to the quest for justice in Guyana. Transient commentators who blithely side-step this evidence will be judged harshly by history.
Sincerely,
Bertrand Ramcharan
