Dear Editor,
Members of the Guyana Police Force somehow believe they have plenary powers to arbitrarily violate the civil liberties of citizens. Recently, a sitting member of parliament was detained and his right to travel denied without just cause. He is a Black man, currently before the court for alleged indecent exposure and criminal harassment. According to his lawyers he was not subject to any travel restrictions at the time of his travel. The man, a member of the Opposition, is neither a flight risk nor is he of any known danger to the public.
That aside for the moment, the following questions are proposed for an analysis on our development as a free and democratic society. Is his racial identity of any importance? Is it of any historical significance in a former colony? What was the role of the paramilitary police in British Guiana? How did the British Guiana Constabulary Force police slaves and former slaves? What was its role in policing of Indentures? How was the Police used by the Black-Dictator, Burnham, after Independence? In an independent Guyana, was the Guyana Police Force used to suppress the civil liberties of citizens and to harass members of the political opposition? Were members of any particular race suppressed because of their political affiliation?
Editor, our current and dearly beloved President is so eloquent on the international stage advocating for Reparations for the descendants of slaves. While in the country he governs, the Police, acting under the colour of law, can arbitrarily detain a sitting MP, a Blackman, and yes, a descendant of slaves, without cause. How about the ordinary citizen, any citizen?
You see Editor, before we run around the world, running our mouths off about Reparations, we need to have Reformation in this country. Maybe we can do both at the same time.
Disturbingly,
Fuad Rahaman