Dear Editor,

I refer to the recent speed boat accident on the Corentyne River, which occurred on Friday February 2, 2007 and resulted in one person being dead and another missing. Thank God for those who survived.

It is somewhat surprising, even though I should not be surprised, that the Minister of Home Affairs is now advising people to use the ferry from Moleson Creek. Why did it take the loss of a life and quite possibly two lives to wake up the Minister.

The question I would like the Minister to answer is ‘since when did he know that people cross the Corentyne River (illegally) by speed boat to get to Suriname and back?’

This illegal crossing has been gong on for many years and uniformed customs officers, your officers Mr. Minister, have been conducting inspections and examinations on the Corentyne right at the shore where they land. Did you know of this?

Now for a more diplomatic question.

Why would your officers conduct inspections of people who are known to have committed a crime–leaving and entering Guyana undercover/illegally, and the inspections were not about their illegal entry?

If you did not know of this illegal crossing then please do the country a favour and tender your resignation because almost anyone in the immigration department knew of the illegal crossing.

As for the carnage on the roads how much more of this “killing” do we have to endure before something is done?

Try making an effort to get drunkards from behind the steering wheel and get back to proper training of drivers (stop the buying/selling of drivers’ licences). Take this “killing” seriously.

I will not ask that you stop the killing of innocent people while they enjoy some happy moments with their family at home by armed bandits. That I know is too big for you to handle. We will leave that to an ex-policeman from the USA.

Yours faithfully,

Charrandass Persaud