Dear Editor,
As aptly said by Dr Martin Luther King Jr, “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamour of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.” What is happening to our country today under the PPP defies all logic, semblance of good governance and respect for human rights. Sad to say with all the ills of this current government, unprecedented in the post-independence history of this country, there are few who can come forward, few who lend their voices, pens and other forms of support to hold this government accountable and bring relief and good governance so that all can enjoy the fruits of this land.
The liberators of yesteryear have become the oppressors and friends of the oppressors today, and society has failed to produce among this current cadre of leaders and opinion shapers, sufficient voices to invigorate a national movement against this regime. Many with the power to influence are failing to create in the minds of our people, and moreso the youth, a spirit of resistance to wrongdoing and the recognition of human rights violations premised on factual, visible events, such as torture; death squads; the denial of justice, decent wages and the right to freedom of association and life.
Security is a foremost responsibility of every government to the citizens. President Jagdeo’s continued abuse of the citizens and his recent dishonest and divisive pronouncements at Babu John, followed by the PPP’s reinforcement of who has ‘blood on their hands’ is nothing short of diversionary tactics. Attention is drawn to a record that includes association with Roger Khan, and Ronald Gajraj’s association with Axel Williams; in addition during their period of office there has been the existence of death squads, the killing of scores including children and women, the assassinations of Sash Sawh and Ronald Waddell, the murder of hundreds of young men and the 1999 police shooting of unarmed striking public servants. This is merely a sample of the bloodshed which occurred under this administration. This government therefore has no legitimate leg to stand on to say who has blood on their hands given its stewardship. None of these crimes have been properly investigated, the laws enforced, the perpetrators placed in front of the courts and justice secured for loved ones. We had to rely on the US court to bring respite and some justice in the case of the Roger Khan saga even as this government refuses to seize his assets.
The attack on David Granger’s right to freedom of association to be a PNC member is another testimony of the degeneracy engulfing this society. Even as this government attacks his right and tries to paint a picture of him being unfit to run for and win the presidency because of such association, it hides the fact that there were known PPP supporters in the army, one of whom was Ronald Gajraj who achieved senior officer rank. Also there is the fact that Drs Roger Luncheon and Bheri Ramsarran were PPP card-bearing members working at the public hospitals, and Mr Bharrat Jagdeo was employed at the State Planning Secretariat; all of them were in senior positions under the PNC administration. These individuals worked with the state, enjoyed the right to association with a political party of their choice, and at the same time aspired to and won elected political office, yet today they want to deny Granger and others the said rights. The issue before us is about performance and what today is in question is the continuous denial of rights, including the failure to provide appropriate security for citizens. This administration must be told that it has no right to take away the rights of anyone.
Today Mr Granger joins the line of the many this government vindictively targets even as it ignores and protects violators. Over the years we have witnessed policies to deny the fundamental right to association as with the public servants and the GPSU, the bauxite workers’ association with the GB&GWU, and the de-recognition threat to GAWU; state resources denied communities who elect non-PPP leaders, those who refuse to bow to PPP dictates, and others for daring to associate with those who the PPP think they should not.
The workers of this nation are being taken for a ride. There is absolutely no justifiable excuse for this, especially given the fact the government has refused international assistance and failed to assiduously move to implement the Disciplined Forces Commission Report, the Guyana Trades Union Congress-Government of Guyana Agreement, among other efforts to guarantee our security that would ensure we go about our daily pursuits for happiness and prosperity.
Never in the post-indpendence era has this country suffered so much bloodshed, or rapacious and abusive behaviour on the backs of the hardworking; when the people were so deprived; and so many lived in fear of being the next target. Out of the instinctive need to live, this government mistakenly interprets the silence as an acceptance of its wrongdoings. It therefore behoves each and every one of us to stand up now, be counted, and say enough is enough. Our rights, including the right to a secure environment, should not be sacrificed at the altar of political gamesmanship.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
