A young professional slain in the prime of her career

Oct 16, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
It is with profound sadness and despair that I pen this letter of both condolence and deep concern for what can only be described as yet another savage and cowardly act perpetrated against a harmless young professional.

The incident I refer to is the brutal slaying of 26-year-old Senior Environmental Officer Alicia Foster, who was senselessly executed at her residence on Sunday 12 October, 2008.

This model young woman was undoubtedly in the prime of her career, in a vastly developing and internationalized area of work. Those behind her murder have certainly robbed Guyana of a promising expert in the growing field of environmental studies.

Her brutal end reminds us of the dangerously criminalized state in which we live, or merely exist. We seem to be vulnerable whether we are free citizens or whether we are guests of the state, locked away in a prison cell; whether we are professionals, union leaders, politicians, ministers, judges, homeless, destitute, or just an average citizen trying to get by.

The fact is, the state of our security has deteriorated at a level where our constitutionally guaranteed “safety and protection” seem to be meaningless.

If the report that she was threatened by a businessman for diligently performing her job is accurate, then there are serious questions to be answered.

If Foster had made such a report to the police, what action was taken? Was there an investigation of any sort? If not, why not?

It appears that those in authority only seem to investigate when a crime has been committed, since complaints of threats, in their view, are to be treated lightly, a reality which plays right into the hands of the criminals, who look for these kinds of clues in order to carry out their dastardly acts. The authorities seem to be playing right into the hands of the savages.

There are a number of recent examples of this kind of “lacklustre attitude” towards complaints of threats to persons’ lives.

These include the Lincoln Lewis case, where Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee made public comments to demean Lewis and ridicule his complaint, because Lewis expressed reservations to interact with the police on this matter.

Lewis intimated that his lack of confidence in the law enforcement agency caused him to adopt this position.

The Minister must understand that Lewis’ concern is a legitimate one that a large section of Guyanese share, as a result of prevailing unwarranted happenings in the force.

His attack, on the union leader, therefore, is unfortunate and regrettable. This might be yet another “bonus” for the criminals, whose psychological tact is obviously well advanced, but the government seems not to notice nor is in a position to respond with the kind of strategy needed to trap these murderers.

It is time that the government presents its crime fighting strategy document to the nation. After the second massacre, there were lots of talk coming out of the Office of the President, and the Ministry of Home Affairs about this strategy paper. Many stakeholders met to propose solutions to the crime problem.

We still don’t know what in fact, if anything from these meetings were taken seriously, as measures to be implemented to combat the crime situation.

While the government plays politics with crime, citizens continue to be murdered and criminally attacked with impunity.

I believe it is time that we all demand with one voice that enough is enough; it is time the President address the nation on how his government intends to address the issue of crime and torture, to ensure Guyanese immediate safety.

To the family and relatives of Alicia Foster, I extend my deepest sympathy.
I cannot imagine the pain you are feeling, but let your trust in God continue to guide your every thought.
The evil behind Alicia’s death will be revealed.
Lurlene Nestor