A notorious but well-shielded Drug “Baron” is finally entrapped and is about to be prosecuted. Suddenly, Court files disappear, and then the appointed judge is poisoned and rushed off to hospital. Case postponed. Justice delayed.
Another narcotics suspect is shot by police and hospitalized. Whilst in promising recovery, he relapses and dies!
A known leader of a Cocaine Cartel is apprehended but a series of developments follow like this: the government prosecutor disappears; the governor of the jail is found with “unexplained” millions; two doctors rule that the accused is too ill to stand trial.
Yet another suspect is wanted by the American justice system for cocaine offences and manslaughter committed in the American jurisdiction. Legal battles ensue over jurisdiction as the suspect disappears, not even venturing to a third jurisdiction – openly.
Now, if you have the time and interest – and you know that all of the suspects and known criminals are wealthy, prominent citizens in their respective societies – what would your responses be to the following: (i) how influential would the accused suspects be to “influence” events in their favour? Before or after arrest? (ii) who would they have to influence? (iii) won’t your list include (a network of) court officials, doctors, attorneys, police officers, nurses, prisons officials, drivers, owners of private businesses? (Note that I’ve omitted from your list government officials – for now.) (iv) would your list of “Court Officials” include Prosecutors, Defence Counsel or Judges?
I repeat my view – and those of knowledgeable friends: Cocaine cartels or enterprises must be embraced by prominent, influential individuals to be so successful. Like any business enterprise, though deadly illegal it needs contacts in Aviation, Airline Agencies, the Police Force, the Judiciary, Transportation, Airport Officials, Security Agencies, Medical Facilities – prominent folks and operatives. (Again I’ve omitted “Government”.)
Guyana – the law and the prominent
My only homeland has become internationally recognized as an illegal drugs trans-shipment port. Meaning that cocaine and other illegal narcotics are routinely received and exported further on from Georgetown, Timehri, Essequibo coast, Lethem or Springlands. Again, consider the network of personnel required for such operations.
No matter how many small-time couriers are intercepted and prosecuted by CANU, the entrenched trade continues, with the executive “Barons” untouched. For argument’s sake I raised a related issue with two knowledgeable friends. Annually, I said to the fellas, the USA country reports lambaste “Guyana’s Judicial System” as being overburdened or compromised, inefficient or untrustworthy – or allegations of that nature. Does it not mean that it is the lawyers, magistrates, judges and court system at fault? And not the Government and its politicians, I asked.
Oh my, the fellows thought me naïve. Yes there are as many legal technicalities and loop-holes locally as there are machinations! How can we explain when the Americans send a list of say 17 persons they wish extradited, 14 are immediately in the know and go underground? If there are no extra-judicial impediments, how our Ministries of Legal Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs never collaborate to satisfy the USA with one significant extradition. I was being offered opinions and evidence of Official – read “Political” complicity! In the avoidance of justice and fair play.
For when, they continued, an arrest or request involves a prominent (?) citizen, elusive judges could be found on Saturday afternoons to issue injunctions? And is it true? That our officials wanted to know if the recent Pink suitcases really contained cocaine – and not flour or talcum powder?
The fellows then wanted to tell me of the role of prominent police officers in the narcotics enterprise, but I, Frankly Speaking became scared.
What do you think? What do you know?
Mashramani’s other side…
Yes, now to a less frightening subject. The Chutney, Kaiso, Soca and Float Parade, Costume and Children’s competitions and revelry are over by and large. The organizers will speak of Mashramani’s 2010 “success” – or not.
I host a fairly popular week-end TV Show.
During recent Quiz segments I re-discovered that Guyanese young and old knew little of our slave and indentured workers uprisings, revolts and bloody protests. (One caller told me that Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow led the 1763 Berbice slave revolt!). I laughed but soon realized the unfortunate-implications, the void in our national knowledge and psyche. We must correct this.
That is why I appreciated the symposia hosted by our University and National Library and Ministry of Culture. Topics dealt with Science and Technology in the Republic and the role of Culutre and Arts in the Republic – 40 years on. I’ve called on the Central Mashramani Management Committee to promote these cerebral activities at Republic Anniversary time – for years. I’m thankful for the usual late start.
Ponder…
*1) A Mike Persaud got it right about the Barry Dataram Case. Legal technicalities shroud the justice we can still trumpet about.
*2) What!? Russian “Mafia Money” for Guyana’s development projects? What’s wrong with these letter-writers?
*3) Why no annual National Awards ceremony? I don’t think this government wants to honour those not in its favour, nor do they want people to refuse their awards.
*4) Overseas Guyanese to vote? One fellow highlighted a lighter side: Just tell thousands of “illegals” that it is a ploy to ferret them and their illegal status out. End of issue!
*5) Even if it is not quite Kaiso, my favourite Calypso this year? Bright Colours’ “Is People”. Congrats to the two old veterans. They know what I know…)]
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
