Dear Editor,

It behooves me to respond to the President’s address to the army top brass on Thursday, March 8, 2007 as reported in your newspaper on March 9, 2007. The remarks directed to the United States government are ludicrous and require reprimand. I beg to differ on these grounds.

Firstly, he said that the United States is the biggest consumer of drugs and one where money laundering is rampant. Instead of accusing the United States without evidence he should focus on what Guyana would do on money laundering and drug exportation. History would tell him that a country that is used as a transmission point will eventually become a consumer of drugs. Cleaning up drugs in Guyana will help to secure a nation that will be safe for our future generation.

My question to the President is why is he so upset at the US because they are at least confronting the drugs lords in Guyana? I stop to wonder when a president lashes out against another government for confronting the truth and with evidence.

As for human rights violations in Guyana may I remind the President of the following recent murders that were never solved – Monica Reece, Neville Sarjoo, Sanicharra, Ronald Waddell, Satyadeo Sawh, the UG schoolboy, and many others.

What about schoolgirls being raped by adult men, domestic abuse cases that are never brought to justice and even recorded in statistics? The President spoke about human rights. In fact he needs a lecturing from the United States government or perhaps a stern reprimand. Why do people run from Guyana? It is not only lack of opportunity but lack of human rights protection. Why is crime so rampant and nothing is being done about it? Please, Mr. President, count the number of innocent lives taken over the last seven years for which no justice was granted before casting stones. Corruption is a non-argument – it is undeniable.

The truth about Roger Khan will unfold with time and I cannot wait for the fat lady to sing. She will sing like a bird and those involved will be exposed.

Yours faithfully,

Steve Hemraj