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Fear tactics will not, and cannot, work this time around

Aug 27, 2011 Letters

 

 

Dear Editor,
As we count down to National and Regional Elections 2011 in Guyana the arm of the state seems to be getting increasingly repressive. We have been put on notice as to the plans afoot to target Kaieteur News and its staff.
Yesterday we learnt of a teenager being thrown in the lock-ups because of some allegation that he showed his middle finger to the President’s passing motorcade.
Permit me to share with the Guyanese public what transpired on Wednesday 17 August 2011 at the Square of the Revolution (Cuffy Square). On that day the Ministry of Agriculture hosted a ‘grow more food activity’ at the Cuffy Square where it invited Guyanese, including farmers and those involved in agriculture to some kind of ceremony, and seed distribution event.
People were bussed in from various rural communities to the Square of the Revolution, to attend. Those making speeches at the event included the PPP/C Presidential candidate, Donald Ramotar, the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Robert Persaud and President, Bharrat Jagdeo. As a Guyanese, who has interest in agriculture, I attended the function.
I was standing with a farmer listening to the President’s address when a police official approached me in a most arrogant and abrasive manner and demanded that I leave the venue. He grabbed on to my arm, and claimed that the t-shirt I was wearing was inappropriate, because according to him, the event was not a political one.
Let me state, here, that the t-shirt I was clad in had a portrait of APNU’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger with the words “A good life for all Guyanese” written at the bottom. I was not surprised that this kind of action was taken but I was taken aback that a senior police officer could have allowed himself to be used as an agent of political oppressors, to strip Guyanese of their fundamental rights.
Let me state that I was at the function for some time before I was assaulted and denied my right by the police official, whom I reminded that he had just committed an assault against me and that his demand amounts to serious infringement of my constitutional rights. This senior officer of the law became even more belligerent and threatened that he will have to take action if I do not adhere to his order, that action included putting me behind bars.
It is interesting to note that while Mr. Watts claimed that my ‘Granger t-shirt’ was inappropriate, he seemed deliberately blinded to the fact that there were persons at the event clad in the PPP/C branded t-shirts, and the cup symbol. Further, since the officer claimed that the activity was not a political one, he did not explain to me Donald Ramotar’s role there.
I have since written the Police Commissioner on this matter and asked for a speedy investigation. I am still waiting to hear from the Commissioner’s office. Let me categorically state that I am not prepared to let this matter be pushed under the usual red carpet.
I pointed out to the Commissioner, Mr. Henry Green that the police official’s action amounted to a grave violation of my constitutional rights, in particular my Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Expression and Association and these I believe are worth fighting for. I responded to a public invitation by a Government Ministry to be at a public place to engage in a public activity.
In none of the promotional advertisements of the event was a dress code stated. But when a senior law enforcement officer can have the gumption to tell you what to wear in this supposedly free country all freedoms are under threat.
I call on all Guyanese to reject this dangerous state of affairs and confront these unlawful and unwarranted attacks wherever they emerge. Fear tactics will not, and cannot, work this time around.
Lurlene Nestor

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