Dear Editor,

On November 24, 2007, my wife and I travelled from New York to Guyana for a two month vacation. We arrived at Timehri at 3.30 p.m. and we joined a special taxi for Parika. About a mile from the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, a traffic officer stopped our taxi for driving above the speed limit.

The officer wanted our driver to turn around and go to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. I then apologised to the officer and explained to him that we were visitors from the United States, on our way to the Essequibo Coast.

Our driver then told the officer to keep his driver’s licence and to allow him to take us to Parika, as it was getting late for the last speed boat to Supenaam.

He promised the officer that he would return to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. The officer was very firm and demanded that our driver report to the station.

It was now dark and raining, and our taxi took us to the Vreed-en-Hoop car park. My wife and I were left stranded as we had nowhere to go.

We had four large suitcases and over ten thousand dollars on us. My wife was crying and we were very frightened. We were open targets for so many bad things.

Our driver, however, was a kind hearted Muslim, and suggested that we take another taxi and go to the Double Day hotel which was near to Parika.

I told him that I was scared to go with any taxi, but he assured me that he would get a reliable friend to take us. We were soon on our way to this hotel, where my wife and I got a room. It was now after 8.00 pm and my wife and I were still very scared.

We were in a strange, isolated place, with so much cash and belongings. Our last meal was breakfast on the plane. We went to bed hungry and worried.

There was hardly any sleep, as we kept thinking about our safety. Early the next morning, we called for a taxi and travelled to Parika, and eventually joined a speed boat for the Essequibo Coast. Visitors do make a tangible contribution to the economy of Guyana. Those in authority should use their discretion, especially when visitors are left stranded and are at risk.

This traffic officer, to my mind, should have used his discretion, and allowed us to go to Parika. He has caused us severe pain and suffering, and is responsible for our decision not to ever visit Guyana again.

Yours faithfully,

Mohamed Majeed