We must use last Tuesday’s tragedy to go back to the basics

Nov 16, 2013 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
On behalf of my wife and family, councillors and staff of the Georgetown Municipality, I wish to offer profound condolences to the families of Police Officers Michael Forde and Sherwin Pantlitz, as well as to those of civilians Hugh Paul and Vanessa Williams. Sympathy is in order for the relatives Deryck Kanhai and also the man who was shot in Albouystown. In the latter two cases, I offer condolences because all life is precious, and even if the dead person is the architect of their demise, their families also mourn.
We must in a civilized society see the death of anyone as cause for us to be sorrowful. The five deaths that occurred on Middle Street in close proximity to East Street may have been avoided if the best methods were employed by the Police. Our leaders and others need to come together to create an environment of sanity and discipline among our citizens.
On Tuesday afternoon I had just purchased fruits at the corner of East and Church Streets, and was on my way to Da Silva’s Modern Optical, when I noticed a woman with a young girl and a child running south along East Street. The woman related how shooting was taking place, so she had just exited the hospital nearby. On further investigation I recognized that a visit to Da Silva’s Modern Optical would have been an act of folly.
But there are some worrying aspects to this tragedy which require either a full explanation or an enquiry.
First, the alleged shooter Deryck Kanhai ought to be known to the police; he had earlier stabbed a close relative in a hammock in the interior. On another occasion he ended up shooting himself in the jaw. The question is why should a man known to be unstable or strange be licenced to carry a firearm.
In Georgetown, I can supply the police with names of persons who have been granted licences, but who from their strange behaviour ought not to be let loose with a gun, as some are, in our society.
I suggest with immediate effect that the list of licenced firearm holders be gone through carefully by a truly impartial team or person, after which persons with a history of violence or strange behaviour be subjected to a psychological examination.
With the pressure of life today in Guyana, persons with strange behavioural patterns ought not to be left loose to endanger society.
Secondly, once on the scene, an evaluation ought to be made. In the case of Tuesday’s mayhem, as I understand it, an effort ought to have been made to get some person who is known to be close to Kanhai, whom he would listen to, and possibly influence him at that particular time. Was this done? This is the age of cell phones.
Further, I don’t know, but was a loud hailer used in an effort to communicate with Kanhai and so established some dialogue? We leant from the police report that the shooter did not have any assault or high-powered weapons.
Next, if we had in place certain procedures, we would never dispatch ranks to a place where guns are in use without the necessary protection. The budget we saw allocated the Ministry of Home Affairs/Police is more than sufficient to protect our police in such circumstances.
Finally all of our leaders – political, business, youth, and religious – should help us create a society where discipline and respect for authority are pervasive. The behaviour of the curious crowd was unacceptable, and none of us should feel proud. I ask therefore that we use last Tuesday’s tragedy to go back to the basics, and deal with the above issues. The powers that be must not isolate this incident from the issues and challenges we face in our society.
May God grant the souls of the departed, peace?
Hamilton Green, J.P

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