Dear Editor,
In your Sunday, June 22 news story captioned ‘Only US govt could have given Roger Khan permission to import spy gear,’ President Bharrat Jagdeo reportedly said that his government could not give Roger Khan permission to import the much talked about spy equipment from Florida, and that only the US government could have done so.
Seems to me the President is playing with words to his own embarrassment. Common sense would tell even the average person if the American government requires permission from a foreign government to purchase the type of spy equipment like the one in question, and then import it into a foreign country like Guyana, then such a permit or letter, pivotal to the entire process, has to bear the letterhead of the government ministry or agency, the specifications of the equipment, (perhaps the purpose?), and the signature of the official approving or authorizing the purchase. These serve as basic proof that the government authorizing the importation is aware and the letter itself is evidence to the seller that the person presenting the letter has the requisite permission to effect the purchase and importation.
So, rather than the President denying his government authorized the purchase/importation of the equipment, the least he should have done was treat Guyanese with a lot more intelligence and enquire if any official at the time authorized the purchase and importation of the equipment. Next, the President should have asked the FBI to help with obtaining a copy of any letter or permit in the possession of the spy shop owners in Florida. With a copy in hand, the President could then ask for an independent analysis of the signature. If there is a match with an official, there should be an investigation. If there is no match, then all eyes will be on Khan as it would create a suspicion of forgery. But the President has to get off this high horse he is riding and stop pretending that if he obfuscates the harsh reality facing him it will all go away.
Mr Editor, in the December 13, 2002 edition of the Guyana Chronicle, Dr Roger Luncheon reportedly said the spy equipment seized by the GDF from Khan and company at Good Hope a week earlier was in the police’s possession. He emphatically stated, “The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration is not aware of any transaction that led to the purchase, importation and use of this equipment that was described.” But there was some ambiguity when he also reportedly said the police had a similar one, insinuating that there may have been two.
Last week he reportedly said he did not know where the equipment was.
In your January 20, 2003 edition, ‘Questions abound over Good Hope arms cache computer,’ various units of government – Home Affairs, National Frequency Management Unit, the DPP, Customs and Trade Administration of the GRA – as well as GT&T were all nonplussed when asked for information related to the equipment.
Two days later, your newspaper carried another related story, ‘Seized laptop helping police fight crime – Luncheon,’ with Dr Luncheon stressing that the equipment was “being used for what it was intended…to fight crime.” He suddenly knew about the equipment!
On February 16, 2003, Stabroek News continued to provide valuable coverage, this time reporting Minister Gajraj as echoing Dr Luncheon on the equipment being used for its intended purpose. When asked if enquiries were being made into how the Good Hope Trio came to be in possession of the equipment, Minister Gajraj said that “if its possession was not illegal then there was no need for an enquiry.”
When also asked about the specially built vehicle with bullet-proof windows and a reinforced body in which the three men were found with their cache of weapons and the spy equipment, Minister Gajraj replied, “once it was properly imported then legally it should be returned to its owner.”
One year later, February 15, 2004, Stabroek News carried an updated news story, ‘Mystery surrounds whereabouts of Good Hope laptop,’ in which the army (which seized the laptop) said it turned it over to the police, but the police seemed not to know of its whereabouts. Efforts back then to elicit a response from outgoing Minister Gajraj and retiring acting top cop, Floyd McDonald, proved futile.
Mr Editor, the President’s simplistic answers and responses on this issue are raising more than just questions. I would strongly suggest he conducts a good faith enquiry into the spy equipment fiasco before the Khan case winds up doing more damage than he is ever capable of controlling. This is not a time for damage control.
Yours faithfully,
Emile Mervin
