Dear Editor,
Reference is made to ‘Jagdeo read charge for alleged divisive remarks’ (SN, May 26). I applaud Chris Ram for pursuing a public interest issue, namely, this private prosecution of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. I think the case is frivolous and won’t go anywhere. But that is a matter for the magistrate to determine. If Mr Jagdeo violated the law, he should be held accountable. And so should everyone else who violated the laws or whose behaviour threatens public disorder.
What the public is interested in is consistency from Mr Ram in pursuing public interest matters across the line. For example, a mob burnt down the homes and vehicles of several people in Sophia. The fire trucks were blocked from outing the fire. Those are not frivolous matters. Also, news report showed photographs of individuals engaging in the arson and violent acts. So evidence exists.
The individuals who perpetrated the acts have to be identified and prosecuted. So far the police have not acted.
The government has made no effort to exert pressure to pursue these cases. I call upon Mr Ram to take up these public interest issues. He should not pick and choose which case he will litigate; whoever breaks the law should be prosecuted. He can become Guyana’s equivalent of Trinidad’s Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, the former AG, who pioneered the concept of public interest litigation and who drafted public interest bills that have been enacted in Trinidad. He can be the public’s eyes and ears.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
