Another testimony of the degeneracy engulfing society

Mar 21, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
As aptly said by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamour of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”
What is happening to our country today under the PPP defies all logic, semblance to good governance and the respect for human rights. Sad to say with all the ills of this current government, unprecedented in the post independence history of this country, there are few who can come forward, few who lend their voices, pens and other forms of support to hold this government accountable and bring relief and good governance so that all can enjoy the fruits of this land.
The liberators of yesteryear have become the oppressors and friends of the oppressors of today and society has failed to produce among this current cadre of leaders and opinion shapers, sufficient voices to invigorate a national movement against this fascist regime. Many with the power to influence are failing to create in the minds of our people, and moreso, the  youth, a spirit of resistance to wrongdoings and the recognition of human rights violations premised on factual, visible events, such as torture; death squads; the denial of justice, decent wages and the rights to freedom of association and life.
Security is a foremost responsibility of every government to the citizens. President Jagdeo’s continued abuse of the citizens and his recent dishonest and divisive pronouncements at Babu John, followed by the PPP’s reinforcement of who has “blood on their hands” is nothing short of diversionary tactics in the hope this nation forgets they preside over the bloodiest period in independent Guyana which continuously pose threats and dangers to our personal security.
Attention is drawn to a record that includes association with Roger Khan, Ronald Gajraj association with Axel Williams, death squads, massacres of scores including children and women, assassinations of Sash Sawh and Ronald Waddell, murder of hundreds of young men, the 1999 police shooting of unarmed striking public servants, which are merely a sampling of the amount of bloodshed occurring under this administration.
This government therefore has no legitimate leg to stand on as to who has “blood on their hands” when its stewardship has been nothing short of bloody. None of these crimes have been investigated, the laws enforced, the perpetuators faced the court and loved ones received justice. We had to rely on the US Court to bring respite and some justice to the Roger Khan saga even as this government refuses to seize his assets.
The attack on David Granger’s right to freedom of association to be a PNC member is another testimony of the degeneracy engulfing this society. Even as this government attacks his right and tries to paint a picture of him being unfit to run for and win the presidency because of such association, it hides the fact that there were known PPP supporters in the army, one of whom was Ronald Gajraj who achieved senior officer rank. Also the fact that Drs. Roger Luncheon and Berri Ramsarran were PPP card bearing members working at the public hospitals, and Bharrat Jagdeo employed at State Planning Secretariat, all in senior positions under the PNC administration.
These named individuals worked with the state, enjoyed the right to association with a political party of their choice, and at the same time aspired to and won elected political office, yet today they want to deny Granger and others said rights.
The issue before us is about performance and what today is in questioned is the continuous denial of rights, including the failure to provide appropriate security for the citizens. This administration must be told that it has no right to take away the rights of anyone.
Today Granger joins the line of the many this government vindictively targets even as it ignores and gives protection to the violators. Over the years we have witnessed and been the recipient of policies to deny the fundamental right to association as with the public servants and the GPSU, bauxite workers association with the GB&GWU, de-recognition threat to GAWU, state resources denied communities who elect non-PPP leaders, those who refuse to bow to the PPP dictates, and others for daring to associate with those who the PPP think they should not.
The workers of this nation are being taken for a ride and their tax dollars being used to abuse them and keep them unsafe.
There is absolutely no justifiable excuse for this reign of terror, especially given the fact the government has refused international assistance and failed to assiduously move to implement the Disciplined Forces Commission Report, Guyana Trades Union Congress/Government of Guyana Agreement, among other efforts to guarantee our security that would ensure we go about our daily pursuits for happiness and prosperity.
Never before has this country suffered so much bloodshed, rapacious and abusive behaviours on the backs of the hardworking; the people so deprived; and so many live in fear of being the next target.
Out of the instinctive need to live, this government mistakenly interprets the silence as an acceptance of its wrong doings. It therefore behoves each and every one of us to stand up now, be counted, and say enough is enough. Our rights, including the right to a secure environment, should not be sacrificed at the altar of political gamesmanship.
Lincoln Lewis

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