Dear Editor,

I was pleased to see the letters from Messrs Charles and Peters (SN, 27.12.07) as it seemed the Lall incident would soon be forgotten, as presumably that was the wish of the PPP/C and government.

In his letter Mr Peters refers to the Rt Hon Kellawan Lall and Rt Hon Minister. I ask is he deserving of such forms of address? Individuals who seek and achieve the highest office in the service of their country are, among other things, rewarded with the courtesy titles ‘His/Her Excellency’ in the case of the president of the republic and ‘Rt Honourable’ or ‘The Honourable’ in the case of ministers appointed and serving in the government. Individuals so rewarded are expected to stand head above us lesser mortals; they lead from the front and set examples for us to follow. They are never ‘economical with the truth,’ to quote an expression used in the British parliament.

Additionally where they or their department is at fault, they, being honourable ministers, accept responsibility and do the decent thing by resigning from office. In doing so they set and maintain the standards of public decency which the country and world expect from those in high office.

When our President meets with other world leaders and our ministers meet with their counterparts from overseas we can be proud to know that our representatives are worthy of the title ‘honourable.’

Sadly these standards are being eroded. How could an honourable minister of the government:-

use expletives in mixed company in a public place;

inflict serious assault on a member of the public;

discharge his firearm in the air;

then grandly wait to be removed from office or have his tenure confirmed by dint of inaction?

Perhaps the title should be taken away from him, but then that would reflect on all the members of the cabinet, hard-working and law-abiding honourable ministers of the Guyanese government. Does the Rt Hon Kellawan Lall not know he has exceeded all forms of decency and should go? Go now before he becomes the laughing stock of Guyana and the world.

Yours faithfully,

(Name and address

provided)