We Need the Freddie Kissoons’

Mar 29, 2019 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,

I must make mention of Freddie Kissoon’s Column of March 26, 2019, “Guyana secretly buries dead Foreign Prisoners”. But before I go into an analysis of his column and an expression of my views on it, I must say there are times when I am annoyed much with Freddie Kissoon. Times when I cannot but help respect and give the gentleman a bow as well. Guyana needs these heroes, who will stand for dignity, principle, honour, patriotism, etc. The likes of Trade Unionist Lincoln Lewis and Christopher Ram come to mind.
It is a fact also that I have observed over the decades that men who are political and vociferous in their passions and who are without fear or favour, will pronounce on the wrongs of society by even the mightiest of the day. I can never hope to equate myself to such men. I hope to be diplomatic in getting my points across or I might just be a coward. These men are fearless when it comes to matters of their country.
I recall sometime past an incident with an African gentleman whom had used another person’s passport to get a job permit though married in Guyana with a Guyanese family; in Guyana, he was imprisoned in Guyana, in the remand facility in Diamond. I visited, took refreshments and clothing for him and other small comforts such as what the law would allow. Mr. Freddie Kissoon’s exposé on the reality that in modern civilization we as a people or a country will bury foreign dead nationals is what I deemed an abomination or a curse as a man of Religion and Humanity.
I personally believe that such evils have a tendency of haunting a people and country when they function in an inhumane and unprincipled manner. Most of the persons that Freddie Kissoon highlighted in his column are persons who overstayed their visa or entered the country illegally. Are we, as a supposedly civilized people, to allow opportunity seekers to languish for months and years to multiply hate in their hearts for and against Guyana or Guyanese? It is known that one of the inmates held in incarceration went ‘mental’ and injured his head and was awaiting to die. Some of them are our Caricom Family and they never commit a crime. The others are from humane countries such as Switzerland, which stand in principle for refugees around the world.
I am recommending to the Government of Guyana to do exactly what the Late President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, did. It was a brave and most humane thing. It indicated that the people of Venezuela will adopt all illegal immigrants and make them citizens of Venezuela. In Guyana, we are running short of people. We need human resource. If this is not the case, consider the fact that thousands of people from Haiti are brought into the country. It is also known that a number of Bangladeshis were brought into Guyana during the period of the past administration. By the same token, let us adopt the illegal immigrants and not be too hasty to deport them. Let us extend and demonstrate to them and the world a humane consideration for their plight and circumstances. We should ask for volunteers to provide jobs for them and integrate them into our society. Personally, I am prepared to adopt one or two of these unfortunate souls and help them to stay in the country or earn their keep to go back home.
Refugees or immigrants coming into Guyana should undergo a process of investigation that include multiple interviews and extensive background checks by Guyanese intelligence agencies and The Foreign Affairs Ministry and then be allowed to resettle and integrate into the Guyanese Society.
According to the Online Huff Post of 01/29/2017 writing on the subject Refugees, Immigrants and Human Rights: “refugees and immigrants like the rest of us have human rights. These rights are sometimes challenged by the countries they leave, which is the very reason they leave. The reason the Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees exist is precisely because ensuring that the rights of refugees protected is essential to the notion of Universal Human Rights. This is also the reason governments assist and protect refugees and immigrants, by granting them asylum and helping them resettle” (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/refugees-immigrants-and-human-rights_b_588e2b58e4b0cd25e4904a10).
Even though these persons overstayed, do we destroy their lives or do we not give them a chance to get back home to their families and love ones or build a new life here? If the Government of Guyana wishes to establish such a board or committee, I am willing to serve on it. We must remember that it is solidarity towards those whose rights are threatened that ultimately ensures the rights of all, including our own. Let us therefore, show our solidarity to the champions of the cause of human rights for immigrants.

Sincerely,
Haji, Commissioner: Mr. Roshan Khan Snr.
The Ethnic Relations Commission

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