Dear Editor,
On Wednesday, August 1, I saw a column in the Stabroek News headed ‘Minister Rohee and the Becket syndrome’ by Henry Jeffrey. I wish to make some comments on it, but first let me rehash that there is a call for a public inquiry into the shooting deaths of three persons by the McKenzie-Wismar bridge where persons were protesting the proposed new rates for the consumption of electricity by residents in the area. The fact that there is a universal call for an inquiry admits that the facts are not clearly known, and it is hoped that everything will come out in the wash during the inquiry.
Let us forget the grandstanding of opposition members of Parliament when they introduced a motion of no confidence in the Minister of Home Affairs.
What is regrettable is that despite the call, some continue to misrepresent ‘facts’ which only the commission of inquiry can certify. So when Henry Jeffrey prefaced his thoughts by writing, “the police action at Linden… killed three innocent protestors,“ he is stating as a fact something that the independent inquiry will have to establish. We have heard the police version as to why shots were discharged.
If there is no evidence that the persons shot were “innocent protestors” how does Dr Jeffrey believe that there is a very important, more-or-less, overlooked dimension to the entire tragedy.
He then concludes with a statement that a government which is responsible for creating an environment that allows some of its underlings to believe their actions are acceptable, is itself culpable.
Is Dr Jeffrey arguing that if a government employee makes a mistake or commits an error in the discharge of his functions the entire government should resign?
Yours faithfully,
Verwayne Adams
