The pain and grief of the masses must be addressed

Jul 30, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I wish to use this opportunity to respond simultaneously to an article and a letter which appeared in Stabroek News (SN) and Kaieteur News (KN) respectively on July 16 and on July 20, 2016 under the captions “Parents of children killed say CCPA keeping them in dark” (in SN), and “Molested inmates at NOC Region 2” (in KN) authored by D. Arthur
In commenting on the Stabroek News article, I want to say that the tragic demise of 6year old Antonio George and his 3 year old brother, Joshua George in the fire which engulfed the Drop-In – Center on Hadfield Street, shocked the nation. What eventuated brings into question conditions at the center and the operationalizing of those institutions responsible for children, both in the care of the state and in private homes.
For two days, I participated in the picketing exercise outside of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) office that was organized by Red Thread Women’s Development Organisation, to demonstrate my concerns on the manner and circumstances of the children’s demise and, just as importantly, to stand in solidarity with the Georges in their moment of grief.
My presence on the picket line provided me with the opportunity to speak at first hand with the parents of the deceased children on their experience in their interface with senior officials of the CCPA. The letter I referred to above, and other public media sources had carried reports pertaining to the parents’ complaints against the CCPA. As such there is no need for me to restate them here. Suffice it to say however, that if the parents’ reports are true I am of the opinion the alleged conduct of the CCPA officials were grossly unprofessional and insensitive to the parents of the two children.
I was disturbed that the CCPA’s alleged insensitive behavior, continued even after President David Granger had announced the setting up of the one woman Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstance of the children’s death. I have gotten the impression that the CCPA officials who are dealing with this matter have little or no regard for the President’s intervention.
When all of the facts are considered the behavior of those officials can be described as self-serving and lacking of remorse. Their attitude seems to be an ivory tower mentality with misplaced notions of unlimited “power”, which has produced a work culture and philosophy to do as they please when dealing with families of the poor and powerless.
This backward and uncivilized approach to human, social and economic problems has no place in the new dispensation which was ushered in by the results of the 2015 General and Regional elections. As I understand it, it is the duty of public officials to serve the people, not oppress them. In serving, they are expected, as the process evolves, to help them to alleviate their difficulties. To all appearances very little help has been extended to the Georges to deal with their problems.
Much is expected in terms of reforming this state agency after the Commission of Inquiry has completed its work. How the tragic death of these children is dealt with will determine the extent of our humanity as a nation.
The fire and deaths at the Drop –In- Center, coming so quickly after the Camp Street prison fire in which so many inmates lost their lives, have forced me to reflect in a profound way on conditions in those national institutions which deal with the incarceration of citizens and in particular those charged with the responsibility for the safe keeping of children and juveniles.
Given the aforementioned, I want to say I became extremely angry when I read D. Arthur‘s letter in KN expressing the concerns of Region 2 residents that the allegations of rape and molestation of female inmates of the New Opportunity Corps (N.O.C) by a former top official from the Ministry of Youth and Sports who was assigned to work at that institution, have now joined the list of “cold cases”.
The people in Region 2 firmly believe that this matter, which took place during the tenure of the last PPPC regime, was not pursued because of the important connections between the official concerned and big ones in the PPPC. The perception that the matter was covered up abounds in the Region. It is in the context of the need for justice for those taken advantage of that I express my public support for the call that President Granger establishes a Commission of inquiry to inquire into this matter.
Unearthing the truth in this matter is of utmost importance. What is involved here is the moral, legal and governance responsibility of the present government to get to the bottom of this issue. It will be recalled that during the life of the 10th Parliament, APNU’s MP, Christopher Jones, who now holds the portfolio of Director of Sports, raised a number of questions on this matter. He was supported by the entire contingent of APNU and AFC Members of Parliament. The APNU+AFC regime is therefore advised not to ignore its responsibility in this matter, since people need to see and feel that wrong doings committed in the previous government will be addressed in a legal and just manner. The pain and grief of the masses must be addressed wherever possible if the gains of the new political dispensation are to be consolidated.
Tacuma Ogunsey

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