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Dr. Persaud should be given a chance

Nov 14, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
I don’t know Dr. Vishwamintra Persaud and am in no position to pass judgment on him regarding his competence as a medical doctor.
But in light of his claim (Kaieteur News, November 13), that he was framed by his ex wife in a criminal charge of an attempted sexual offence and that he pleaded guilty to this charge with the expectation that it would not harm his ability to practice medicine, I think the doctor should be allowed to continue practicing in Guyana under the supervision of another doctor.
In the US, when a charge is levied against an individual and he or she pleads guilty, even if they are innocent, it becomes a conviction which leads to serious consequences including termination of professional licences.
It has happened to many, many people so much so that lawyers have warned people to think carefully before entering into a guilty plea on any charge. Several Guyanese have lost their licences innocently in various fields never to practice their vocation again.
I know of several Guyanese teachers who lost their teachers’ licence in NY innocently. One was accused of rubbing his step daughter’s belly inappropriately to cure her “nara” and he lost his licence.
Another was accused of harassing a female student outside school and he lost his licence, even though the accuser’s friends said in private the teacher never harassed the girl.
But believing that if he pleaded guilty, the case would end and he would be allowed back into the class, he lost his licence.
Dr. Persaud claimed he touched his wife’s relative daughter in a playful manner, something that is very common in Guyana to show love and affection for loved ones. In the US, that is considered child abuse resulting in grave consequences similar to actually committing a sexual offence.
An Egyptian couple lost their two children after their neighbours reported seeing them touching their children’s private parts – a cultural practice in Egypt.
The American judicial system does not show consideration for cultural practice on sexual allegations. So it is conceivably possible that Dr. Persaud is telling the truth when he stated that he innocently touched the privacy of children.  American society would not understand or relate to such a cultural practice. At any rate, Dr. Persaud was “convicted” of an “attempted sexual offence”.
Given Dr. Persaud’s explanation of his conviction, and considering the fact that he has performed exemplary, and saved the lives of a mother and a new born last week, and considering the recent serious child birth problems in our hospitals, I am petitioning the medical board to give Dr. Persaud a chance under the supervision of one of the doctors at the hospital.
Vishnu Bisram

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