Dear Editor,
I confess that the Sunday Sta-broek’s headline was arresting: “Gold trader Jagmohan writes Benn seeking probe of business for ‘clean bill of health’” (SN June 12). I commend Mr. Jagmohan for taking this most necessary of first steps, but I fear that he is going to have to do more to get more.
In the three years that I shared with this leading gold dealer and exporter in Guyana, we have had our range of disagreements, but never any sniff of discourtesies. As the Brits would say, that wouldn’t do. I am sure that he would recall what I have always said to him in gatherings (we had a single private exchange to express my concerns when one of his people and place of business came under attack) do everything right, and there is not one thing that has to be answered for before anyone. What-ever he thought of that simple little standard is of no interest to me. But what interests me is that this Guyanese brother is on the radar of public attention and in sharply wounding ways.
I commend him for doing the right thing by reaching out to the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs to have his people do some diligent work and give a ‘clean bill of health.’ As honourable as the minister is, I regret having to say publicly that more than what may be issued from that source, and whatever proceeds from under his watch, would be needed by Mr. Jagmohan. As we all know, Mr. Jagmohan included, the work of the probers and investigators in this land mostly fail to stand up under fierce light relative to credibility, hence reliability and acceptability. As one example I tender the episode in the matter of a man murdered that involved a couple of magistrates, the DPP’s office and wended its way over to the CCJ. For sure, there has been exoneration, but that is all there is, since countless citizens sense, believe, and settle for what is different, arguably closer to the truth.
I would recommend, for what it is worth, to Mr. Jagmohan that he employs any relationship that he may have with the leaders of this Govern-ment to use their good offices to engage Her Excellency, the Ameri-can Ambassador, to call in those reputable foreign law enforcement agencies, to give the ‘clean bill of health’ that he covets. He gets that and he is golden; he shuts everybody up. I think a man of the stature of this weighty contributor for decades to the national economy is due such a favour from this government.
In fact, I would venture so far as to say that he owes such a favour first to himself by taking his case into the lion’s den, and saying this is my story, now get ready to do yours, and do justice by me. I don’t think that there could be a ‘cleaner bill of health’ than that, both for himself and his business. I would like to see Mr. Jagmohan get such an accolade, earn such a broad jurisdictional encomium. If I know the man, the gold dealer, a fraction of what I think I do, it is that he has been dogged and resilient. As much as he doesn’t appear to listen and to adjust, he is nobody’s fool, and should appreciate the wisdom of what I urge him to do. Do it, brother, and nobody can bother.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall