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Hopefully the nation will move on from this saga of wanton crime and destruction

Nov 13, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
I agree with the comments of Mr. Adam Harris in a recent column in which he stated that Guyanese (in Guyana as well as in the Diaspora) are deeply divided over the Roger Khan matter (Kaieteur News, October 18).
When I was in Guyana in July conducting a NACTA survey, I asked people how they felt about Roger Khan. Virtually every Indian saw him as a hero. Africans and Mixed races were divided with some also viewing Khan as a hero for protecting their businesses from the brazen criminals, but the majority was opposed to Khan. Similar views were obtained about Khan from Guyanese I spoke with in Trinidad, Toronto, and New York during recent travels.
People were not favourable to Khan’s illicit drug activities, but they supported his extreme actions against those involved in the robberies and mayhem during 2002-05, when many decent people were killed. Even critics of the government supported the actions of Khan against the criminals, who wreaked havoc and fear on the country. I was reminded by both Indians and Africans that the ruthless criminals were targeting innocent people during the runaway crime spree and the authorities were helpless. No one felt safe and anyone could have been killed during that period.
Aside from business people and other innocent souls, several police and soldiers lost their lives during the terror period. And some police officers I spoke with favoured the actions taken by Khan. People were terrorized, robbed, and killed on the East Coast and in Georgetown and elsewhere.
Buildings were burnt and looted. Businesses lost billions through shuttered doors. They were never compensated. The few criminals lived well while the rest of the nation suffered. Many businesses were grateful that the criminal activities came to an end and did not care to know how the crimes were brought under control. They just wanted their safety.
So Adam Harris is right. The nation was and still is divided over Khan. It is good thing that the Khan matter is over. Hopefully, there will be healing among the divided groups and the nation will move on from this sorry saga of wanton crime and destruction.
Vishnu Bisram

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