Dear Editor,
Robert Burchell Oclave Hart, many, many years ago, produced a popular newspaper article titled, ‘Things that bother me.’ Had he been alive today, he would have had a field day walking and talking about some things that would have bothered him.
What bothers me?
1. The Berbice River Bridge which is near completion at the mouth of the said river, at a location that is rather wide and therefore costly. Could the government tell us, truthfully, why an earlier proposal for the bridge to be build from Ithaca, West Bank Berbice to Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice was ignored? That is a narrower (shorter) span, the soil better for construction and where established communities exist. What is the justification for selecting this location and what was the estimate for the Ithaca Sisters crossing and the cost of the present?
2. Now that ‘Fineman’ and ‘Skinny’ have been eliminated for society, the pity is, what would they have had to say with a lie detector? Next, could we be told more of the eyewitness they have to the Camp Lindo massacre?
The authorities have listed the many crimes of ‘Fineman’ for which they have ballistic evidence. They must be congratulated and deserve the praise and gratitude of this nation. I add my plaudits to certain high sections of our security forces for this vigilance.
With equal efficiency and alacrity citizens can look forward to where the ballistic and other evidence would lead in terms of who killed Ronald Waddell, Shaka Blair, Donna Herod and others, about which there is a deafening silence. For those who believe in God, every life is precious and we subscribe to the injunction that ‘Thou shall not kill.’
By the way, when will we have a public hearing on the torture report?
Why is Oliver Hinckson being shackled and put in solitary confinement day and night? Whenever these matters are raised by his lawyer, Nigel Hughes, the Prosecution says he is unaware of this barbaric treatment, but will investigate. What is the result of this investigation? If some of our youths turn out to be cruel and uncaring, are we not showing them a bad example?
A bit of advice to the Chief-of-Staff: AWOL soldiers are not new, but the numbers have increased. May I suggest you assign an experienced social welfare person and an officer to examine the problems each of these young men face? To publish their photos and demand their ‘surrender’ is to create another group of frustrated Guyanese, likely to hit the rough road. These guys in the main are not bad, but need help and to feel that the big ones care.
I speak from my experience in the early ’80s; we had soldiers leaving their posts improperly. Very senior officers and I travelled to certain areas in the city and countryside and within a short while these soldiers came forward tell their story. Why? We had sent the word out that they could come out of hiding to talk to us. 100% did. But it must be someone they trust. Some of their stories could bring tears to your eyes. May I suggest this approach – it worked before.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, JP
Mayor
