Dear Editor,
The statement attributed to Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, that Guyanese are more concerned with the amenities they expect to receive from their overseas relatives than with incidents of torture and human rights violations in our nation is a sad testament of how low our nation has sunk in terms of moral and ethical sensitivities at the pinnacle of power. What a strange thing for the civilian head of a Law Enforcement Agency to say in public. I could understand such a statement coming from a rookie constable unaquainted with Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. But when a Minister of a Government that parades itself as an example of democracy makes such a public utterance, one is left to wonder whether barbarians are not knocking down the gates of our civilization.
What kind of society are we living in that our leaders are wont to flippantly thrash the very foundation upon which democracy and civilized society is based.
That in addition to being a physical society, we are abstract entities joined together by a commonality of beliefs, values and principles, among which is the pellucid understanding in our constitution that, “None of our citizens shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. What kind of leader attaches such innately shallow characteristics to a citizenry, by claiming that materiality and luxury take precedence over their abstract values. And worst of all, what kind of bigotry coerces a minister of a government to insult the many who recognize Christmas as a ritual reconnection with principles of Christianity.
I await to see the response that will follow this macabre statement that is just one such from a long line coming from this very minister. And I do so while posing this very relevant question. Pray be honest and tell what response would have greeted a similar comment if the celebration or commemoration was a period set aside for Muslim or Hindu religious recognition? What would have been the response during the reign of the PNC Government, if a minister during EID or Deepavali, publicly stated that Guyanese were more concerned with the goodies they were getting from the US than with issues that contradicted their religious values.
Would the PPP party have taken lightly such a churlish comment emanating from the ruling ranks, that the spiritual consciousness and conscience of some of their constituents took a back seat when it came to goodies and materiality associated with their religious celebrations? I bet not.
Like I keep proclaiming in these missives of conscience, the double standard interpretation of rules as practiced by George Orwell’s animal Farm characters has gained a secure foothold in Guyana, and our poor nation will never be the same hence.
Yours faithfully,
Robin Williams
