Dear Editor,
I found the article headlined `Guyanese more concerned with food, shelter than torture – Rohee’ on Tuesday, January 1st 2008, as shocking as it is disturbing and disrespectful.
What’s up with our Ministers of Government? Not so long ago the organized murder of Guyanese was allegedly being masterminded by a former minister of government who has since been promoted to ambassadorial responsibility. Coming on to the end of 2007, a minister had an out of court settlement for what could be described as irresponsible use of a firearm. Now, here comes another minister who is using words irresponsibly.
What’s going on? In the wake of so many unsolved crimes in a country with a small population how can a minister of the Government make such a remark? This comes across as callous, inconsiderate, unsympathetic, and insensitive. It dismisses as unimportant the feelings of the victims, and families of victims who are still suffering from the impact that harassment, imprisonments, disappearances and murders are having on them.
How are we to hold responsible positions in our country, and show such scant public disregard and contempt for people who are suffering emotionally.
Regardless of what reason was given for the tragic termination of lives, torture, disappearance or imprisonment, these victims are sons, husbands, fathers and brothers, sisters wives, mothers. They meant something to someone. There are people who knew that they couldn’t all be criminals.
When statements such as these are made by the ones who are paid by the country to take care of situations that reek of injustice, it reflects horribly on the mindset behind the government.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the Government of Guyana were to make it mandatory for all who hold, or are aspiring to hold public office, to attend orientation classes?
Such a move would equip all government officers with the knowledge they need to understand the offices they hold, and the public image and responsibility that go along with them.
Yours faithfully,
Pastor Kwesi Oginga
