Dear Editor,
Mr Desmond Trotman probably feels a bit annoyed that I referred to the WPA as a fringe element and definitely showed it in his libellous letter of September 17, to SN (‘WPA stands by its release on the accident involving Kellawan Lall’). In so doing he missed the point and illuminates the point that I made previously: it is not the truth that matters but that which provides an occasion to promote an agenda. It will be shocking if Mr Trotman were to even consider that the Minister may be speaking the truth.
My letter to SN (‘SN coverage of accident “smacks of yellow journalism”’) was not “breaking the silence.” Mr Trotman probably read, but did not understand, my statement. I clearly stated that the day after Kaieteur News carried the convoluted story, I sent a response through an attorney which the paper refused to carry. The fact that I did not make a comment on the matter to SN did not mean I was silent. There was nothing to convince me at the time when SN’s reporter spoke to me that I would have been treated differently. In fact, it seems more like I was being silenced. What is Mr Trotman’s opinion on this matter of the treatment of my response? These days people enjoy a democratic Guyana but they do not subscribe to the responsibilities that this democracy brings.
The WPA carries on with its story that I was involved in a hit-and-run. The matter of libel will be dealt with by my lawyer. Suffice it to say that the WPA has already tried the matter, with the WPA being the judge, jury and executioner.
The WPA is so blinded by its hatred of the government and ministers that what the pillion rider of the motorcycle had to say is correct because it is critical of the minister.
It does not matter if what the pillion rider said made any sense.
First of all, Mr July does not know where the accident took place. His story is that I hit the motorcycle in a dark spot, my vehicle was swaying from one side of the middle line to the other, and I smashed into their vehicle and then drove away.
But that does not accord with what the driver of the motorcycle said. Unless Mr July is suggesting that the driver is part of the conspiracy. It has been established by the driver of the motorcycle that the accident occurred on the Liliendaal bridge, which was under repair.
Now, if I am on bridge and half of it is cordoned off due to repairs, how is it that the vehicle was swaying across the middle line. The bridge is about 70 feet long and twenty feet wide. Can Mr Trotman say how, in a ten-foot road span, all that magic can happen? By the way, just in case Mr Trotman does not believe that the bridge was under repair, he can ask the Ministry of Works. Unless, of course, he believes that that ministry will be involved in a cover-up. Or ask the GPL if the street lights were off. And, of course, Mr July is contradicting the driver of the motorcycle who said that my headlamps were too bright.
Or better yet, take this into consideration: the driver of the motorcycle agreed that the accident occurred eight feet away from the eastern end of the bridge. I was travelling east and the motorcycle was going west. It means therefore that when I drove onto the bridge, the motor cycle was at least about 60 feet away from the bridge. (I am assuming that we were travelling at the same speed). What does Mr July, the pillion rider, say about this? The motorcycle clearly could not pass between the bridge and the rail of the bridge without hitting either one.
And can Mr July explain why he was not immediately treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital and had to wait for a few hours when at all times medical assistance was available? And why is it that a KN reporter was tiptoed into the hospital ward outside of visiting hours, aided by a member of the senior nursing personnel, cordoned off the injured pillion rider in his bed, chased out all the nurses, and then carried on a secret conversation? Mr Trotman is not interested in these things because it does not fit the agenda.
KN states emphatically that a policeman was an eyewitness. Where is this policeman?
Why has he/she not come forward? I would be very glad if that were to happen. But I believe that that is a concoction. Did KN or SN tried to get in contact with the driver of the vehicle that took the driver of the motor cycle to the hospital? Did any one of them, or Mr Trotman, visit the site and ask for eyewitnesses? There were indeed several eyewitnesses. That will be good investigation journalism and I will appreciate that very much. But, as I said, the truth is not important here with some people. I am not claiming a monopoly on the truth but let it be established before rushing to judge. (I only mention KN, Editor, because some of the statements in the letter are culled from information contained in KN.)
And the most serious matter is that if indeed this accident took place in a dark spot on the East Coast and with my headlamps off, I drove uncontrollably, hit the motor cycle and drove off in a hurry, then why would I act in a manner stated by Mr July, ie send my son to the scene afterwards. I suppose Mr July, in such a situation could not have seen my vehicle – the make, colour or number plate, and from his own statement he got the location wrong by miles, then why would I send my vehicle, with my son, to return to the scene? I must admit that I sometimes hit the press on controversial matters, but I don’t think that I am that stupid. And for July, Trotman or anyone else to suggest, Editor, that my young son would be complicit in a matter like this, is just not laughable. In fact I am taking it very, very seriously.
For whatever it is worth, Editor, I want to state that I did not leave the scene of the accident before the injured persons were taken to the hospital. Yes, it is true that I did not drive the vehicle to the hospital myself. I do not think I am required to do so. I am required to remain on the scene and render assistance if is needed.
That is what I did. Editor, I beg your forgiveness in explaining certain things in detail. But as you know, the devil is in the details. And also, I wanted to make the point that I made in my letter, that some people are not interested in the truth. They are quite comfortable with trial in and by the press, especially when it suits their purpose, more so when a government official is involved.
Yours faithfully,
Kellawan Lall, MP
Minister of Local Government &
Regional Development
