The GHRA, a moribund creature, has found its voice

Nov 24, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Guyana should be hanging its head in shame. The current debate over the former Prime Minister Hamilton Green’s Pension Bill is ridiculous and reeks of a society that has to learn to focus on institutions and not personalities. That being said, my belief is that here is someone who gave his entire adult life, fighting for the rights and development of the members of his party, and the country as a whole, being brought into odium and disrespect because of perceived character flaws.
There are some that may not have liked his political actions, but this man held the second highest office in the land through legal and constitutional means. The real shame is that the dictatorial and vindictive PPP regime never ensured that this man got his due from the state that he served. Why should someone who served as the Prime Minister of a country not be awarded a pension when he demits office? An office he was duly elected to. The award to the former Prime Minister is a clear demonstration of respect for human rights and dignity. This move is a noble and right thinking act taken by the APNU/AFC government.
My major concern in this whole debate is the strongly worded statement put out by the GHRA. That moribund creature has risen from its near death status to chastise the reputation, of one of Guyana’s noble sons who contributed to the development of this country while serving in a constitutional office. The GHRA claims among other things that Hamilton Green does not deserve a pension because
1. He contributed to ethnic divisions in Guyana.
2. Mr. Green, never apologized for the humiliation, hardship and violence to which the Guyanese people were subjected during his harrowing term of office.
3. Mr. Green’s lifetime of politics was marked by incompetence and divisiveness
4. He was an incompetent mayor that caused the decay of Georgetown.
It is interesting that the GHRA has finally found its voice. It is even more interesting to note that no evidence of the former Prime Minister’s alleged misdeeds have been proffered by this corpse of an organization. More so, where was the GHRA when the Bharat Jagdeo presided over a state that saw the summary and extra judicial killing of more than 400 young black men? These victims came from families that Hamilton Green has defended and protected all his life. After these shocking revelations, the man who directly oversaw the security services and was implicated in these killings was promoted as an ambassador to represent Guyana at the highest level in a foreign country. Did the GHRA find this acceptable?
When Jagdeo awarded himself a rapacious pension package after all of his misdeeds and acts of ethnic polarization did the GHRA find it necessary to speak up? When Freddie Kissoon and his family were attacked in the most vicious manners because he exposed the wrongs of the PPP regime, where was the GHRA? The GHRA would do well to take some free advice. If you think you need to remain relevant, find some real human rights issues to pronounce on. It is sad that we as a people are descending to that level when it comes to people who served our nation with distinction.
Jerrick Rutherford

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