Ms. Bollers by standing up sets an example that all of us may enjoy equitable justice in Guyana

Dear Editor,

We are appalled at the way Ms. Shawnette Bollers is being treated by the judicial system. Ms. Bollers took a courageous stand, in the face of the police dragging their feet to investigate, when she decided to bring private criminal charges against attorney-at-law, Nirvan Singh, who she alleged assaulted, chased, spat upon and subjected her to vile racial slurs while she was on official duty at the residence of his father, retired Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh. Now the DPP has decided to discontinue the charges against Mr. Nirvan Singh without so much as an explanation of the reason/s for the dismissal, and without even informing Ms. Bollers and her lawyer of this decision. (Editor’s note: A statement was yesterday issued by the DPP on the matter and a report on it appears on page 10.) Editor, don’t you think Ms. Bollers is deserving of a hearing or more so an explanation as to why she is denied a hearing? Why was Ms. Bollers and her lawyer not informed of this decision? Why is she not being allowed her day in court, given the very serious allegations she brought against Mr. Singh? Ms. Bollers deserves the right to justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions owes it to her. The DPP is mandated to administer justice in criminal matters.  Is the manner in which the DPP handled this matter called justice?  Is Mr. Singh’s alleged abuse of Ms. Bollers not seen as serious enough? If it was the other way around, we know that Ms. Bollers would have been charged.  Are we to take it that Mr. Singh, a learned lawyer, is above the law or that people with money and positions and contacts have immunity when it comes to the law? What do poor people need to do to get justice in this country? This decision MUST be challenged. We commend and support Ms. Bollers for standing up. In standing up for herself, she sets an example to her children, her family, and all of us. 

Sincerely,

Susan Collymore

Norma Adrian

Joy Marcus

Halima Khan

Wintress White

Vanessa Ross

For Red Thread