Dear Editor,
Two weekend news stories stirred to thinking and writing. A third on Monday confirms that Guyana is a leaky shaky ship.
It alarmed that a former Health Minister was charged for driving under the influence. That a former minister of health, medical professional, and senior citizen could be charged with this alleged violation brought the shakes; my head spun. I wonder what the former minister was thinking, then getting behind a wheel. It is asking for trouble. In this regrettable matter, I applaud the Guyana Police Force for doing its job, without fear or favour. Or any pressure, I would hope. I found those likeable in this distressing news.
Second, there was the report of an auto body workshop operator in West Ruim-veldt hauled before the courts by Guy-ana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for not ceasing activities “which poses a serious risk to the environment and that of public health”. I repeat this if only to reassure myself (and the public) that this was the EPA coming to life and flexing its muscles on the allegedly errant. There may be some hope for the EPA, after all. My position is that the rules are the rules, and all must adhere to them, without regard for their station or strength. Or connections.
In both situations, I am impressed that two sensitive state agencies delivered, fulfilled their mandate. I commend both the GPF and the EPA. Now I must go backward, starting with the EPA. How about those bigshot local and foreign violators linked to Guyana’s oil and gas sector? How about them, and their hazards, pollutions, and the public health dangers they pose? How about their factories, other facilities, and wells that damage us in different ways? Why not the same standard that was applied to the workshop operator Singh, not being delivered with the full weight of the law to them? And while I am warming up, is the GPF going to tell me that only PNC loyalists are out there indulging? How is it that the GPF pretends not to know that the people with the big money and the bigger money runnins are from the PPP, and that they are known to frequent popular city watering holes to boast of their temperance pledges and designated drivers? Just kidding around. How about a little dragnet for the big fish, Mr. GPF? Again, apply the same standard to them, as the former PNC minister. Last, I read that the “Environmental appeals board ruled against impact study for Coverden waste facility” (SN June 14), which I think proves what the position of the editorial titled, “Public Consul-tation (KN June 14). Since the facility involves “oil and gas waste treatment” on what was both the EPA’s and the Appeals board decision based? Wouldn’t an impact study have given more credibility to whatever decision was finalized? I would make a firm argument that it would have done so, with every step taken to give assurance to Guyanese that they matter.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall
