Dear Editor,
I wish to respond to the articles relating to the collision along Victoria Village, ECD involving Victor Adams. First, I wish to thank the Almighty God for saving our lives and for us escaping with minor injuries.
I must say that I was driving within the lawful speed limit at approximately 11.20 pm proceeding west around a turn when my front tyre suffered a blowout. I temporarily lost control of my vehicle.
I remember vividly colliding with an object lying on the road. I had not consumed any alcohol and therefore was not under the influence of alcohol as Kaieteur News suggested. I suffered injuries and was much shaken up at the time. Seconds after I brought my vehicle to a stop the police car pulled up alongside and an officer in police uniform invited me to the Cove and John Police Station. I joined the police vehicle after accepting the invitation but not before enquiring of the state of things of any other concerned parties. The officer replied, “We tekking care.“
At the station Victor Adams, the driver of the other car and I spoke. I enquired of his health and he said he is generally okay and left for the hospital. Before he left the police station, Victor Adams and I decided to resolve the matter privately.
I stayed at the said station for more than three hours, doing nothing save and except talking and listening to others including the police officers present and a few members of the public, when I was asked to give a statement. I declined, and I must add that that is my constitutional right.
I was never asked to take a breathalyzer test by any officer of the law. I cannot comprehend ‘my refusal’ becoming an issue and so I am dumbfounded as to the origin of the words, ‘not sterilized.’
The police officers present at the time engaged the matter with utmost professional courtesy, and such conduct of the police did not escape my eye except for one individual who spoke with some authority and in my opinion was overly enthusiastic in his approach to perform his duties. I was worried about and disappointed in him, but I shall not comment any further at this stage as it relates to this individual who at the time was attired in plain clothes.
At that station I enquired of Officer Kumar on a number of occasions about any updates regarding Victor Adams and no update was available. I must add that at no time did I ‘walk out’ of the police station; I left the police station – there is a big difference here. Further, I was never arrested nor detained.
Now, I would like to bring into focus other issues of pressing importance. Kaieteur News is once again setting the scene of shabby and one-sided reporting, the many instances of which the right-thinking members of the public are au fait with. Kaieteur wants to sell its papers and searches for juicy headlines. Did this newspaper invite me for a comment? The answer is no. Is there anything wrong with this approach to professional journalism? The answer is yes, and the reasons are many including (i) bias, (ii) unfair reporting, and (iii) speculation, which is dangerously explosive in the minds of the reader. Whatever became of the rule of law – audi alteram partem which means always hear the other side. Kaieteur News receives a report and without thinking brands the defendant a criminal without due process of law.
Further, I am not aware of any law which says that an accident cannot be settled. Further, I am not at fault and accidents do happen. There was no traffic offence or any other offence committed by myself and I could have chosen to let the other party seek redress for any injuries or damage suffered. However, in utmost good faith and as a human I stretched out my hand to Victor Adams and he accepted.
In the end I wish to add that I am a man of the law, a minister of justice, and I live by the law. I am not above the law since I have high respect for the law. And I too would like to see the law take its course.
Once again I would like to thank the police for their prompt response in this matter and most of all to say thanks to the Almighty Father for sparing our lives.
Yours faithfully,
Haymant K Ramdhani
Magistrate
