The government has relinquished its responsibility to protect the ethical standards of the nation

Dear Editor,

On April 3, 2012 President Donald Ramotar told the Guyanese people that a decision on embattled Police Commissioner Henry Greene would be made in “a few days time.” It has been more than two weeks since this statement and to date the nation is still waiting for that decision. It has been almost three months since the Commissioner admitted to engaging in grave professional misconduct. A joint Jamaican-Guyanese team at the behest of the government, investigated the allegations of rape against Commissioner Greene, and while it did not find these credible, did say that he had admitted misconduct and that this invoked Article 225 of the constitution.

It is contemptuous of the decent people of this country for President Ramotar to continue to treat this matter as a minor issue, as if he is hoping that the people will forget. The President ignores the fact that how he and the government deal with this particular case may affect how we as a people will be viewed around the world. Obviously our moral and ethical standards as a people will be questioned, although the world, and in particular our Caribbean brothers and sisters, must know this is not reflective of the people of Guyana.

Any government which prides itself on protecting the image of our country and people would have acted swiftly to ensure that the moral and ethical values are protected. This brings me to the current sex scandal with President Obama’s Secret Service agents who went to Colombia as his advance team a few days ago. In that situation, it was reported that agents took prostitutes back to their hotel. As soon as the information came out, the agents concerned were recalled to the United States and another group sent to replace them, while an investigation commenced immediately. I listened to two female members of the United States Congress one a Republican and the other a Democrat, who said that the matter is serious and must be thoroughly investigated. They agree that while it is not yet known whether the agents committed any illegal acts the US must act swiftly to ensure that the high moral and ethical standards on which the nation prides itself are protected. For them it was all about protecting the values, ethics and morals of the people of the United States. This sex scandal has now become the subject of much debate and a massive investigation. The eleven agents under investigation have already had their security passes revoked, and all this has happened less than three days after the incident occurred.

We in Guyana have been waiting months for the President to invoke the article of the constitution which would relieve the top cop of his duties, even after he admitted to gross impropriety while holding the office of Commissioner of Police. Many Guyanese protested, scores of citizens and organizations, from all sides of the political spectrum, came out boldly and denounced Commissioner Greene’s action, but to date the government and the president have refused to take the side of the people on this matter. It begs the question as to whether the President and government believe that this scenario reflects their own moral and ethical standards. While any reasonable person would have expected Mr Greene to resign, he has remained in his position. I am, however, now convinced that this episode goes beyond Mr Greene and raises serious questions regarding the President and the government’s stance on issues that matter to the people. Are there other reasons, unknown to us, why the government seems to treat this matter as of no great concern to the people of Guyana. Who will look out for the people of Guyana, and protect the values, morals and ethical standards of our people when those in authority relinquish this most basic responsibility?

Yours faithfully,
Lurlene Nestor