Guyanese more concerned with food, shelter than torture

Guyanese are more concerned about the goodies arriving in their barrels from overseas, acquiring a house lot and their own home, than the torture of two Buxtonians men allegedly by members of the security forces, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said yesterday.

He said some sections of the media were just pushing the issue to sell their newspapers; citizens were not necessarily concerned.

Rohee made these comments yesterday at his end-of-year press conference, in response to a question as to whether as home minister he did not want to see closure to the case involving Buxtonians, Victor Jones and Patrick Sumner. He told reporters that the case remained an allegation and that in life allegations were always there.

“When you finish with one allegation there will be another. I am not expected in my life time at the ministry to dispense with all these allegations,” Rohee said. He added that home affairs ministers come and go so do commissioners of police.

“I have done a walk-about recently and I asked people what were their major concerns. No one raised this one [torture of the men] except some sections of the media