Every human is entitled to a decent burial

Mar 11, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Good sense must prevail in handling the burial of those who perished by fire during the recent Camp Street prison events. It doesn’t matter that some of these men were allegedly on the wrong side of the law, their rights and dignity are protected under United Nations Declarations and this is what ought to govern actions and thinking by the state in dealing with this matter. These persons were under the protection of the state. The state had undertaken to incarcerate them and implicit in this is their safety and security in keeping with conventions, laws and human rights. Any failure or breach in safety is the responsibility of the state because the state is in control of it.
Out of care and compassion, the government should see to the burial of these persons at a reasonable cost. Funeral parlours can be commissioned at reasonable cost to offset burial expenses. This is not a matter of whether persons are guilty or innocent but is how we treat with issues, which in civilised society one expects that the behaviour of the state will not mirror that of criminals, alleged or proven. In a prison system the law vests responsibility on the state to ensure the wellbeing of the inmates. In this instance where deaths have occurred out of events that occurred within the prison, the custodian of the prisoners is liable.
The government is called on to rethink the position of designating $100,000 per person to defray funeral expenses. Any humanitarian government, after these people were failed by successive regimes, it is a caring administration, supportive of human rights and dignity to take responsibility and honour its obligation forthwith, without feeling it is an indictment on the political parties that form the government. It is not about trying these persons, and even if persons feel the fire was the prisoners doing, they have no authority to sentence them to fiery death.
There is no call for a grand funeral, but something decent. And this can happen by commissioning a parlour of the people’s choice at an agreed cost. This is an appeal to the humanitarian nature of all of us. It could have been anybody’s child in the prison and for any reason. Let us view this matter impartially through reasonable and humanitarian lens. We have had person from all socio-economic and political background who have been incarcerated, rightfully and wrongfully.
Yours truly, Mark Benschop, Norris Witter, Freddie Kissoon, Cheddie and Janet Jagan, were among the prison population. When it is a loved one, persons who have been advancing for some consideration, such ought to be considered. This matter is best handled when we divorce ourselves from the whom and deal with the what.
Lincoln Lewis

Latest News

Every human is entitled to a decent burial

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival returns for 19th edition

Louis 97, Athanaze 90 give West Indies slight...

Vladimir Woodroofe backs out of World...

Exciting Double-header bowls off today with...

YMCA and Hard Knocks battle for Futsal supremacy...

Sukhwa delighted to score most runs at GCB...

Features/Columnists

Let us not be silent witnesses!

Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all

Welcome, Mr. PM

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Every human is entitled to a decent burial

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]