Dear Editor,
Gavin Paul’s death on Saturday afternoon on Robb Street after being shot by a public-spirited citizen evoked a wide range of emotions in most people.
Anyone – or their relative – who is a victim of a crime will experience feelings of rage and a desire to retaliate. Others live in fear of becoming victims of crime, and many persons had no sympathy for Paul. They felt that enough is enough and were appreciative that an onlooker would come to someone’s assistance. It was pointed out that if more citizens joined in the fight against crime, the streets would be returned to them. The public is always encouraged to assist the police, but this must be within the confines of the law.
The person who shot Paul may have believed he was justified in shooting him. The reports suggest that Paul was running away and posed no threat at that stage to anyone when he was shot in the back. He was defenceless. I assume that the matter is under investigation and we await the outcome.
For those who may disagree and justify the acts of the shooter, consider an innocent bystander being shot and killed by the bullets intended for Paul. Consider again, that bystander being your family member. We are all tired of the crime and violence in Guyana and want these persons who commit offences, to be brought to justice, but we cannot take justice into our own hands; the police must be allowed to do their job. We cannot condone or accept the vigilantism. To do so would be to turn our streets into a war zone of victims seeking revenge.
It is understandable that people are losing faith in societal processes and have started taking things into their own hands, but caution should be exercised since there may be a thin line between lawful and unlawful conduct. Maybe those prepared to cross that line and embark on ‘vigilante justice,’ have no faith in the justice system and believe that they too may escape prosecution for offences they commit.
We are a good people and though the pressure of living in Guyana can get to the best of us, we need to be vigilant, and this includes in relation to our own actions. Let not the actions of those who are compelled to walk the wrong path force us to lose our inherent goodness and human decency.
Yours faithfully,
Dawn A. Holder
