Dear Editor,
Universal rights and the rule of law are paramount in the construction, maintenance and development of any modern society and cannot be compromised as we march on in the physical and human evolution of this country. A people cannot make claim to prosperity and peaceful co-existence when laws are violated by those placed in position to protect the laws, and citizens’ rights are transgressed by those placed in similar position to secure these rights, and the violators are not held accountable.
A simple example of the entrenching deficiency in this society is the behaviour of the governing PPP. For instance, to acquire a state-sold house lot the ordinary man has to meet the conditions of having children, a stipulated timeframe for building his home, and a prohibition on disposing of the property until after 10 years have passed. Further, if he fails to build within the timeframe the lot is taken away. In the case of President Jagdeo and his cohorts they refuse to subject themselves to these rules. For it is known the President received a lot from the state at Pradoville 1, constructed a home, and sold it before the stipulated 10 years. Three things are clear here: 1) the President has no child; 2) he sold Pradoville 1 under the stipulated period of 10 years‘ possession; and 3) we live in a society where laws and rights are not universal. These are the violations and anomalies the government would have kept from citizens if it were not for the independent media. And these are the very acts that fuel the divisions, inequities and underdevelopment of this society.
Against this backdrop one has to understand the retrogressive and dangerous antics of the PPP going after “certain media houses,” and calling journalists “carrion crows” and “vultures,” which is a serious indictment of those who have been given the privilege and responsibility to manage the affairs of state. In democratic and progressive societies the media are the citizens’ watchdog, ensuring their rights are not transgressed and the laws are not violated. Further, the President is the recipient of the Champion of the Earth award yet he seems ignorant of the role of the carrion crows and vultures in protecting the environment.
Had he taken time out to think of the names he has given to the journalists he would recognize his name-calling is an admission of the rot and decay of this nation under his watch, where laws are not being upheld, rights are being transgressed and the economy is being raped with impunity. He would know too that true environmentalists and those who care about this nation appreciate the role of the carrion crows, vultures and journalists in protectively hovering over the earth/nation and identifying/reporting the decay. It is in this context President Jagdeo is correct to call the journalists “carrion crows” and “vultures.”
Today our birds are implored to continue their work without fear or favour. For you are reminded if it were not for you we would not be aware of Roger Khan‘s association with the government. We would not be aware of the many acts of discrimination against the people and the wanton misuse of our money as evident in the many scams committed by officialdom. We would not be able to share our thoughts and work through our challenges as we strive to forge a nation of one people, one destiny.
For this nation not to rot/die and be able to rejuvenate itself it is absolutely important our birds continue flying over this country, drawing our attention to the decay and helping the efforts to rid the environment of toxic waste so we can all have a healthy life.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
