Vitesh Jamnapersad Guptar was arrested this week by the Guyana Police Force. A national of Netherlands it is alleged that Guptar is a part of one of the world’s largest and most powerful mafias. Ndrangheta is said to be one of Italy’s oldest criminal organisations. Guptar is wanted for aggravated criminal conspiracy aimed to commit international drug trafficking and has been on Interpol’s red list since 2019.
How do accused criminals on wanted lists think it safe to make their way into our country? We must question their connections when they can smoothly integrate into our society. A wanted man like Guptar could have set up business and live near the United States embassy in Duke Street Kingston. Should we also have questions for our national security advisor? Is Guyana a haven for criminals?
Sometimes it seems that swift justice is only for those in the fields who offend. Like an escaped prisoner like Akeem Wong who was convicted of rape. He was accused of murdering a mother and her son, Elizabeth, and David Gomes two weeks ago. He was shot and killed by the police, and it has been reported that he made advances to the police with a cutlass. Of course, no one will feel pity for a prison escapee who was convicted of rape and accused of murdering two innocent people. We say good riddance to the guilty who take the lives of the innocent. However here too we have seen men shot by the police under questionable circumstances and questions we would have liked to ask those dead men can never be. May Orin Boston continue to rest in peace. International alleged criminals on this plantation may be arrested but not shot to death.
In these fields our outrage is often short-lived. As a collective our questions are not investigative enough. We do not stand unswervingly and demand accountability and fairness which leaves us on a path at risk for destruction.
This week we also saw the UN Human Rights Committee raise several concerns during its hearings. Governance Minister Gail Teixeira answered questions. Some of the answers would seem questionable and even untrue. Some of the questions were about corruption in the Guyana Police Force, extrajudicial killings, allegations about corruption in the signing of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement, press freedom, concern was raised over the non-confirmation of Chancellor and Chief Justice among other issues. There were also questions about the absence of an investigation into allegations of corruption against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. In response Teixeira said that no police report was filed and that the vice president has denied the allegations.
When crimes are spoken about on this plantation fingers can be pointed to those parading as massas, but it is not often that they are investigated or held accountable if they are guilty. There have been allegations about corruption involving vice president for years. During the VICE News report in 2022, we saw the vice president look befuddled when he was caught off-guard and asked questions about a Chinese businessman Su Zhi Rong. It was alleged that Zhi Rong was a middleman and would help Chinese investors and businessmen to secure deals through the vice president. However, bribery was said to be involved.
After the UN Human Rights Committee’s enquiry President Irfaan Ali defended the vice president saying that the allegations of him being involved in corruption is opposition propaganda. The way we can regard a body like the UN Human Rights Committee of not doing their own investigation and only going off what the opposition would have alleged is absurd. The ridiculous defences which a group of the sheeple consume like gospel is embarrassing to the nation.
During his press conference on Thursday Vice President Jagdeo said that the government would like to see the names and organisations who made submissions to the UN Human Rights Committee in the name of transparency.
Those in the field on this plantation are desperate for help. The fears are real for some. Some will hang on the hem of massas garments thinking that it will protect them. Some will stretch their hands across borders for help while alleged criminals come here and make home. It is telling how this plantation can be a haven for wanted criminals but can be hell for some of the citizens of this country who just want their human rights respected and to have a fair share of the pie so that they too can sip tea and know that their futures are secured.
