The justice system is rotten in Guyana

Feb 29, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Everyday, there are countless administrative mistakes that are made or go unchecked which results in an unfair trial and innocent people going to jail. It is a justice system that has become one in which you simply cannot afford not to pay a bribe. It’s the only way to stand a fair chance.
Corruption occurs at every single stage of our so-called justice system. It occurs in police stations, in lawyers offices, in the courts and in prisons. There are many cases where corruption is the sole reason why a person is detained in the first place.
It also affects their ability to have fair access to the justice system and to access their most basic human rights whilst in detention, even affecting their ability to stay safe from harm.From the start, the police misuse and abuse their power to arrest people and frighten them into paying bribes.
This illegal practice continues to be carried out throughout the rest of the justice system, with bribes needing to be paid at every single stage, as I have witnessed. This has resulted in many people being jailed innocently or are serving longer sentences than fit their crime. This cannot be allowed to continue.
This is breaking our society; our people know there is nowhere to turn to get justice. The very system that is in place to ensure fairness and equality is the system that ensures that poor, innocent people are being criminalised and victimised. There are no human rights in Guyana.
The criminals know that they can commit their crimes and pay their way out of jail. A society that cannot ensure justice for its people is a society that offers no hope. And we wonder why our suicide rate is so high. There are minors being held in lock-up without the aid of social services.
The looks on their faces says it all. It’s heartbreaking.President Granger, we urgently need to clean up the entire justice system from top to bottom. Only then will you be able to deliver on the changes you promised our people.
Over the years, the PPP have stifled the citizens of Guyana of the knowledge of their basic human rights. We need to educate our people on their legal rights and obligations, and more importantly, we need to arm them with the knowledge of their basic human rights. New leadership within the police force is a must. President Granger.
I also feel it necessary that the poorer and more vulnerable people are provided with legal aid should they require it. We need a zero-tolerance approach with adequate consequences and/or punishments handed down to those within the justice system who are proven to be corrupted. These simple steps, I believe will be a good start towards rectifying our justice system, thus, providing equal rights for all citizens, not just the rich.
Dale Shaka Kalamazad

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The justice system is rotten in Guyana

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