Dear Editor,
It is indeed a good sign to see that various organizations in Guyana are committed to pursuing a path to ensure that the allegations made by former First Lady, Varshnie Jagdeo, are investigated. I do not believe that with these damning allegations laid at the feet of our President, any of us can sit idly by and allow them to just melt away into thin air. Guyanese women continue to be abused daily and many of them remain silent victims primarily because they feel that there is no way out, and that there will be no justice in their case.
Further, many of them continue to believe that being physically, verbally, emotionally or otherwise abused by their spouse is a price they have to pay in a relationship.
Varshine Singh’s account of her experiences must be a wake-up call to remind and educate women that domestic violence is not a norm in any relationship. Varshnie’s sufferings must serve as a catalyst for drastic action to be taken to rid society of this kind of violence. When the President of a country is accused of inhumane behaviour against his own wife, all citizens must be concerned once the claims are substantiated. At a time when the Guyana government has subscribed, or signed on to all current laws, treaties, and agreements to ensure women’s rights are protected we have the leader of the nation accused with violating these very rights.
In any true democracy such allegations would have led to an immediate investigation to ascertain the validity of the claims. But what we see instead is President Jagdeo appearing to be unconcerned about the allegations. His manner can only be described as insensitive. Is this how the President views the legislation intended to address domestic violence? It was most unfortunate to hear him say that he was trying to move on with his life and that he wished his former wife well. Mr Jagdeo should know that this is not a matter where he can just throw the issues behind his back and move on with his life. This is a matter which requires investigation, and he cannot move on until he satisfies the people that he is innocent of these charges.
I am disappointed that to date the Minister of Social and Human Services, Ms Priya Manickchand has not signalled her intention to meet with Ms Varshnie Singh to formalize her complaint and initiate some kind of investigation.
This matter cannot be swept under the table; the nation needs to know the truth and whether the President is guilty of these allegations.
Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor
The people say that it’s a “private matter;” then abandon the arm of the Ministry of Human Services that deals with domestic abuse.BDW the minister was on air asking for the first lady to visit the ministry.We’ll sure have the devil tried in hell.
Selfishness begins from the home.No wonder we have a Leader who’s closed to the ideas of others.
… as u so rightly point out that “selfishness” begins from the home ,, then we have to conclude that what the nation had to endure for 28 years at the hands of an “ILLEGAL” govt ,, in all spheres of govt and private lives was selfishness times 10 ! the GUYANESE people ,,, many of whom is not only GREEDY ! but have bcome killers and brutes to TAKE from others what does not belong to them ! is the result of ur analysis ! an juss suh yuh kno it still goin on !….
so u are saying that if badness happen 28 years ago this government and president is justified in repeating same or doing worst. think again, my take, u not making too much sense.
I like Lurlene’s sarcasm,referring to Jagdeo as “our” president” what a joke,for your info you are beating a dead donkey,give it a rest, we of the world knows that you are an ardent and diehard PNC and that you have not ever or will ever write anything remotely positive about Jagdeo( and we know there are tons of great things that has been done to improve Guyana).Well Lurlene Nestor its seem that you are just trying to keep this unimportant issue alive for Ms. Singh who went back to England to sell her story to the Tabloids.They are so much more serious things that Jagdeo has dealt with regarding the development of Guyana,just finish representing Gy.and the Caribbean in Davos,He has the distinction of being the only Caricom Leader invited to this world prestigious meeting.History will be very kind to Jagdeo unlike the Leaders from previous illegal regime who were never elected but never-the-less ruled to create an impoverish land. and that’s not sarcasm but the truth Lurlene.
TSAR
I said almost the same but sn wont print….
glad you exposed her for all to see this pnc mouth piece….
everyone knows she for one set of people only…..
LurNes: Does the Minister have the mandate to initiate a case against everyone who allegedly abused his/her spouse? Should the Minister not only act when there is an official complaint. Is this matter being aired only because it is the Pres? He/she does not warrant priority over other citizens.Regards
yes, r s. dasai, i think nestor is right the minister has a duty, especially in this case of alleged hi-tech abuse. the allege perpetrator, is the president, not an ordinary citizen, this is the man who signed all the related laws to protect women from domestic abuse. the world is watching, the minister must not wait for ms. singh to go to her she must reach out, this is a young woman like herself.
JUST LIKE THE MINISTER HAVE HER STAFF GO TO VICTIMS TO GATHER INFORMATION, SHE AND HER OFFICERS SHOULD VISIT THE FORMER FIRST LADY AND BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION. THE PRESIDENT’S DUTTY LINEN IS A BAD REFLECTION OF THE ENTIRE NATION THE ISSUE MUST BE DEALTH WITH, CANNOT BE PUSHED UNDER THE TABLE BECAUSE IT WILL SEND A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD THAT ALL GUYANESE MEN ARE ABUSIVE TO THEIR PARTNERS. AND THIS REALLY IS NOT THE CASE.
“President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday met with Britain’s Prince Charles in St James Palace in London” (Guyana Chronicle). I wonder if Prince Charles gave President Jagdeo any tips on marital solutions. Just me being facetious HeHeHe
Point of correction Critik! “The people say that’s a private matter” No Jagdeo and his supporters say “ITS A PRIVATE MATTER”.
Like Ms Nestor said, “the Guyana government has subscribed, or signed on to all current laws, treaties, and agreements to ensure women’s rights are protected we have the LEADER of the NATION accused with violating these very rights”.
Mr Jagdeo oath to know that he is the President of Guyana. This issue is about President Jagdeo who is holding the Presidential position and should be responsible for his actions – without any denial or excuses.
Those who want to know more go the court – when ever his former wife takes him there.
bet you she will not take this to court and she knows why…..no case submission ehehehehehehehehe..she will become the laughing stock with her complaints to the media and all those who are opposing the prezz….
This Ms Varshnie Singh; is she really telling us all, or only what would make the President looks bad? This Guyanese darling; is she with out fault?
.
we will never know if the presdient keep dodging the ball, this mek he looking guilty. he got to stump up and deal with the allegations like a man. so far is Varshine side alone we know the president buying time to hope the story melt away bu this serious. as a guyanese man i don’t want nobody think i does treat woman bad. i know nuf brethren don’t like this thing the president must clear heself fuh we sake or else he mek all ah we look guilty. stump up bass man, i agree with the letter writer. and i sarry fuh the datah.
Gah love.
boy i tall ya
ya cant tell de letter writer she too fass…to mind other people’s business…this is one letter writer ya cant say nothing to thats y my blog not posted…
evil eyes when it suit u, you respond accordingly, now u want to hide jagdeo story. he must leh we know the truth remember like u say the other day, this is a woman like yuh mother. by the way jagdeo business is the people business.
extreme
let me ask you this…
you have something to hide?
did jagdeo hit her?
did he mistreat her and if so why did she stayed and took it and never reported it to you or the police?????
you, like pnc Lurelene wants to know other people’s business
did the man raped her?
did he plunge a knife in her 21 time and burt her with hot liquids????
evil eyes u get to say too so much that you expose you stupidity. what is people business, Jagdeo must answer to the Varshine allegations, you think all them organizations want to mind jagdeo business ot u think they see this as a serious issue. by the way u might not be able to answer this question. you think obama can tell the citizens of the u.s that they must not mind he business, the president is the people business, you better wake up and smell the coffee.
The President made it clear that he has nothing to say.Miss Singh did not make any report to the ministry of Social & Human Services neither to any relative organisation.The letter writer states that in any true democracy the matter would have been investigated.the assumption is that Guyana don’t have true democracy.It is not the NATION who’s asking the president to speak up but just a ‘very small fraction’ of people.Persons can see clearly that these letters are ‘i don’t like the President’ thing.
its the pnc-ites wanting to make political milage out of this..the woman never reported this alleged abuse to the legal authorities..she did report to the media…and for the letter writer to talk about democrace she shouls count her lucky stars she got freedom to write in a news media..
Danny deabru, small mindednes will take us no where the complaints are public why must the ministry wait for Ms. Singh to make report? and not because someone talk about the wrong doings of the president means that the person has a problem with the president, your reasoning sound like a preschooler, and no with all the oppression Guyana is not a true democracy. It look like once you is the president yes person u are a good person, this is stooge thinking, I am sorry for you.