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Minister Ashni Singh should submit himself to the justice system

Feb 28, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor
It has been alleged that Minister Ashni Singh was under the influence of liquor when he got into the accident last Sunday night. It is also reported that so far, no charges have been laid and that friends and well wishers of the Minister are negotiating compensation for the victims. It is reported that the Attorney General has found private time to get involved in the compensation discussions.
Guyanese masculinity is linked to alcohol consumption, to the escapades related to alcohol and to the impunity from the consequences. Minister Singh must know how much he was allegedly drinking and only he could decide if he has a problem with his alcohol consumption.
Those of us though, who wish the Minister (and any other friend or relative caught up in drunk driving offences) well, should be concerned. It is not helpful to enable any drinker’s problems by removing or minimising consequences. It might be true that the Minister and the Attorney General grew up in times when they did not see public officials (or very few persons really) charged or held accountable for any improper behaviour or conduct.
This is an opportunity though for redemption. Should Minister Singh decide he has a drinking problem then surely his process to overcome that problem will set an example to all those across the political and social divide who have had to pay compensation and bribes to avoid the consequences of their behaviour.
It must be difficult to be a police now. On the one hand Minister Rohee complains about police inaction, but somehow the police seem to believe that big ones have special procedures. Minister Rohee shouted this is a police matter, but one wonders if the PPP is not concerned about the well being of their bright young members as the future of the party. Surely Minister Rohee would like to have the confidence that none of the PPP members would have a drinking problem or get themselves involved in more serious accidents or cause harm to themselves or to others.
Minister Rohee said he was against marijuana. Very rarely does marijuana consumption cause the problems that alcohol consumption does. Surely Minister Rohee and Minister Singh and the Attorney General and their supporters and well wishers must be concerned that the inability of the justice system to deal with alcohol related offences is going to further destroy any efforts made to reverse the destruction caused by alcohol consumption in Guyana.
But people complain about police inaction on noise nuisance and illegal bars and rum shops.  It must be difficult for the police because they know also know that all are not equal before the law and they must be fed up with that kind of hypocrisy. Some police themselves have been involved in drunken incidents and not faced the courts.
Those of us who wish Minister Singh well should ensure that he does the right thing in submitting to the justice system (victim compensation aside) and perhaps provide courageous leadership in overcoming any drinking problems.
Too many lives in Guyana across race, class, economic, educational and social backgrounds have been destroyed by alcohol consumption – through accidents, violence, ill health. Too many lives in Guyana have been ruined because the justice system has failed in ensuring perpetrators of alcohol related crimes face the consequences of their behaviour and mandate that they get the help they need to ensure that their consumption of alcohol causes no further harm to themselves or to others.
Vidyaratha Kissoon

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