What kind of human beings do we have for business people in this land?

Oct 22, 2010 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

An action may be wrong yet logical. A first year philosophy student learns that from his/her textbook. You can understand why investors are afraid to make political statements in autocratic systems. They simply fear victimization. This becomes a virtual act of self-destruction. The retaliation methods are literally endless.
If you are an importer, the dictators will make sure your goods stay on the wharves longer than it takes for one labourer to dredge the Demerara River. The loss can be catastrophic. If you deal in perishables, then your goods will rot.
The Guyana Revenue Authority will come knocking and will literally ensure that you see the cardiologist when it is finished with you.
Business people are not fools. Once the little dictators attack human rights activists, media operatives, the professional classes among others, the indicators are graphically emblazoned on the foreheads of investors that the same viciousness can visit them.
I am not, and will never be, reluctant to admit that the Government secured a victory when the Guyana Revenue Authority sent me eight duty-free property tax forms and demanded that I complete them.
Imagine the terror that passed through the collective soul of the business community. “If they can do that to a UG lecturer without even a pretence to wealth, what then will they do to us if we invoke their wrath?”
I would not refuse to admit that the government chalked up another victory when I was attacked and a miasmic substance thrown on me. The fright that act sent throughout this land reverberated even in the Guyanese Diaspora.
“Not me boy” was the thought that dominated the mind of every Guyanese who wanted to speak out. Business people were convinced that if they can do that to Freddie Kissoon what wouldn’t they do to our business?
Business people live in fear of this government. They know that it is an insecure cabal who would not hesitate to devastate their investments should they utter criticism of Government’s policies. Now that is perfectly understandable.
What defies logic and is amazingly inscrutable is why Guyanese investors are fearful of making statements that are sociological in nature. There is nothing wrong about our entrepreneurs complaining about fetid material left uncollected for months in the heart of the city because it can cause a terrible tragedy by way of an epidemic outbreak.
There is nothing wrong in the private sector asking the government to ensure a daily and adequate supply of potable water. Business places cannot do without this compound. There is no politics in such an advocacy. These are routine complaints the investment class make in other states.
When it comes to crime, business people see red. An out-of-control crime syndrome can devastate the world of business in a small society. Crime is not a sociological nuisance like the erratic supply of electricity or the slow trickle of water. It is about the lives of investors, their families and employees.
Criminals kill business people because they feel that they can get more assets from that section of society rather than school teachers and public servants. There is a crime epidemic in Guyana. We come now to the main intention of this article – the reward offered for Tyrone Rowe known by the nickname “Cobra.” It needs no explanation that the concept of a reward is to induce the citizenry to do their civic duty and participate in the stopping of crime.
From my investigation, it appears that “Cobra” wanted Mark Benschop and Dale Andrews (senior reporter of this newspaper) to facilitate his delivery to the police. Mentally he felt comfortable with them and no other citizen. The two men, no doubt, had a chat with “Cobra” about the need to have his meeting with the police.
Looked at from any angle, these men were responsible for “Cobra” being in the hands of the police. For reasons quite known, the police do not want to assign the reward to Benschop even though he has assured this writer that he will give every cent to charity. Well why not award the bounty to Mr. Andrews? Again, I was assured by Mr. Andrews that he is willing to give every penny of the reward to a needy organization.
The police refusal sends a terrible signal to the citizens of Guyana. Most of all, the business people whose lives are dependent on proper policing principles ought to speak out on this disgraceful conduct by the police.
Citizens are not going to cooperate if they believe the police are not going to honour their word.

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What kind of human beings do we have for business people in this land?

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