What is repressive about arresting Ali?

Dec 10, 2018 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Is it wrong or incorrect in procedure, for law enforcement, once they have sufficiently good reason or cause, to go to a suspect’s place of abode, or wherever known to be, at any time that is deemed appropriate and convenient to arrest or apprehend that person for a given matter?
More so, can it be described as “repressive” when all the necessary procedures, such as seeking proper legal advice, and its subsequent permission to lay charges in the particular matter, would have been had?
Editor, I am not a legally trained person, nor do I pretend to be knowledgeable in such complex matters; however, my layman’s understanding informs me that agents of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), acted within the confines of their remit when they arrived at the home of former Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali, and took him into custody at a reported time of 6.30 am.
But, if one is to be guided by PPP/C former Education Minister, now Member of Parliament (MP), Priya Manickchand’s recent parliamentary remarks during the current BUDGET 2019 debate, she referred to Ali’s arrest – as “repressive”.
I am not au fait as to why this MP, who has lost all credibility as a representative of the people, due to her scurrilous lie of being assaulted in the National Assembly, would want to describe as “repressive”, police action against her colleague, who is accused of very serious charges against the State.
Her statement, though, is not surprising because it follows a particular pattern, epitomized by her deceptive and dishonest party leader, where his party members charged before the Courts, are claimed to have been “witch hunted”.
In fact, editor, we are dealing with a new culture, and understanding evolved by the leaders of this discredited political party, that has given an entirely new cultural interpretation and understanding, to criminal acts committed against the State whereby PPP/C high officials are not to be prosecuted because of who they have been, and of course, their party membership, and even because of their race; since Bharrat Jagdeo has also implied the aspect of race as being a reason for their being charged.
Manickchand must be reminded how repressive her former government had been when they had the security forces constantly harassing Mark Benschop whom they eventually had charged for treason; Former army lieutenant, Oliver Hinckson, on trumped up sedition and advocating terrorism charges.
Then the equally trumped up charges against a former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major Munroe and his wife, Carol Ann Munroe, and ex-soldier Leonard Wharton who were eventually freed.
Then there is the execution of outspoken activist, Crum Ewing for which fingers have been pointed at this former government; as well as the death of close to four hundred young African Guyanese; the unleashing of the security forces on the Buxton community, with the purpose of its pacification; and the now infamous disbanded Target Special squad that shot down so many African Guyanese, even when their hands were held high in surrender; the execution by the Target Special squad, on Mandela Avenue, of three young men, although they were made to lie face downwards on the roadway.
These were in addition to many other acts that highlighted the desecration of the Rule of Law during the tenure of PPP/C governance.
So repressive is the nature of the PPP/C in their understanding of democracy and freedom of expression, inclusive of the right of expression, that the case of a letter writer, who wrote in the then Guyana Chronicle letters’ column, criticizing a certain cabinet appointment occasioned a response, in which the then Editor-in-Chief was asked as to the reasons for allowing such a letter comes to mind.
The list is legion, of the various examples of repression by Manickchand’s administration. Any honest Guyanese, except those from the PPP/C, and others with a political agenda will testify that no such repression currently exists in this country.
It would seem that Manickchand is taking issues with the time of Ali’s arrest. If indeed it is, then one wonders whether she may be inferring that the arresting officers ought to have waited until the MP had taken his breakfast? But that is to make light of a most serious criminality, of which the former cabinet officer is accused.
Manickchand should be reminded, that the timing of any police operation is part of a police agency’s special prerogative; as well as, arresting any citizen for any alleged offence, or for enquiries into such is the lawful act of any law enforcement agency, once there is good cause.
This action must be carried out, irrespective of who these persons are, or may have been; and irrespective of their race and ethnicity.
Regards
Dillon Goring

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