Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter because I feel a loss of hope and fear for the life of my three month old nephew, my sixty-six year old father, my sister and brother-in-law, who reside at Yakusari Zone, Black Bush Polder.
On Monday night, the 4th of July, 2022, my neighbour started to curse my dad. My dad ignored him. The neighbour claimed that my dad is watching his wife. My dad, who comes home at nights, occupies the bottom flat of a two story house, facing the neighbour’s wife house. Making things more unbelievable, the yard is fenced along that side where the neighbour is located with eight feet high zinc. How can my dad see the neighbour’s wife over an eight feet high zinc fence? The neighbour says he saw my dad at his door when he used a torchlight. Imagine the neighbour had to use a torchlight to see into our yard but for some reason a 66 years old man can see into his house in the pitch black with no light. Makes any sense?
The neighbour in question, entered our yard, and came up within three feet of our door, threatening to kill everyone in the house including a three month old baby. The matter was reported to the Black Bush Polder Police Station that night. We have to provide transportation to bring the police and take them back. But they did not find the person. On the July 7th, 2022, the police arrived before 5am to arrest the person and were able to do so. But the person was released. They also told my dad that the court date will be the 19th of July, 2022. My dad was called to the police station on the 13th of July 2022, but this time to be told that another neighbour saw him looking at the people. What puzzles me is how on earth these people see through a zinc fence? The neighbour that said this has problems with us and they want us out of Black Bush. The police claim they have another neighbour claiming she saw my dad so they can’t go to court.
In this country you can get away with threatening to kill a three month old baby. What on earth did that three month old baby do? Guyana is becoming a place where you no longer feel safe in your own yard. When I was living at that house, this same neighbour would be watching me from head to toe. When I came out my gate, he would be staring me down until I am no longer visible. It was uncomfortable, but I couldn’t say anything because it’s not a crime if someone watches you. This neighbour feels it’s okay to watch someone else’s wife and daughters but if anyone looks at his wife he threatens to kill them. I mean even if his statement is even true. My question is, what if he had gotten into the house that night and chopped up my family? What if he had killed my three months old nephew?
We are living in fear that this man will kill us and the police in Black Bush Polder won’t do anything until we are murdered. If that man kills my family, you know what the police will say, I am sorry about your loss. How about doing something before the lives of four innocent people are lost, including the life of that three month old baby. A three month old baby’s life was threatened and these police don’t care. How heartless can someone be?
Sincerely,
Lisa Budhu