Dear Editor,
I wish to address a very critical issue and I will direct my request to the very eminent leader of the main opposition party, Mr Granger.
I have to admit that protesting over issues is quite in order. I have long since suggested that we need ‘lobbying groups’ in this country simply to have the voice of the people heard. So I am in support of protesting for a cause. With particular reference to the killing of a young man, in the village of Agricola and the protest there I would like to ask Mr Granger to focus on the form of the protest.
The shepherd cannot say he was asleep and the wolves devoured some of the sheep. That shepherd is ultimately responsible for the loss. While the people of Agricola have a just cause to protest, the manner of the protest is wrong or, in my view, unacceptable. It is unfair Sir, for people to destroy property and burn roads, which are all for the benefit of the nation, because they have an issue with the police or the Minister of Home Affairs. Looking at the form that the protest took, at Agricola, and the fact that innocent persons were caught up in the middle of it and were robbed and beaten, it is unacceptable.
Mahatma Gandhi led and initiated many protests in his time and so did our late President Cheddi Jagan, but there was no burning of buildings or roads and robbing of persons. They were peaceful protests that were concentrated on making a point or bringing home a message.
Let us make our point, and I support the call for Minister Rohee to resign or be dismissed. In fact I made that call a while ago myself after the ‘backtrack boat’ capsized in the Corentyne River and two persons died and it is my clarion call today that this man, Clement Rohee be deemed unfit to be a Minister. He has failed miserably and should quit immediately. But I will not be burning roads to make my point.
Please have control over the protestors, Sir. Protests will be more effective and respected if they are civil and orderly. Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Charrandass Persaud
