With regards to claims of rape in the Guyana National Service, it is not too late to report

Apr 13, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – Recently, Kaieteur News carried articles/letters of rape in the then Guyana National Service. Mention of rape was alluded to by your columnist Peeping Tom and a letter by Suresh Kissoon (Kaieteur News, Monday, 12 April, 2021), headlined, ‘The Guyana National Service was known for a high incidence of rape.’ His letter ended with the sentence, “the National Service was a place of positive experience for many who went there, but a disgusting rape house for many who went there as well.”
Rape is a serious and a most heinous crime. Recently, a judge sentenced someone to 14 years imprisonment for rape. It was the bounden and civic duty of persons knowledgeable of rape in the Guyana National Service to report these incidents to the police. It is still not too late to do so. I am not aware of any statute of limitation on rape. These reports of rape beg the question of the administration of the Guyana National Service. Most of the administrators of the Guyana National Service were recipients of national awards. Among them were Major General Norman McLean, Major General Joe Singh, Director General Laurie Lewis (deceased), Lieutenant Colonel Desmond Roberts, and Deputy Director General John Piggott. It goes against the grain for anyone to think that administrators of such honourable repute will sit idly by and condone high incidences of rape under their watch.
I am a strong advocate for national service in Guyana, hence my reason for objectively pursuing its being. I lived in Israel for 4 years and had the opportunity to witness the glories and benefits of national service. In Israel, national service can be exemplified by serving in the army, the youth corps, the kibbutzim (a type of voluntary community organisation), hospitals etc. My stint in one kibbutz was in the banana plantation. Lunch was at noon. We completed our assigned tasks at 11:30 am. My reckoning was that it was time to head for lunch. Much to my dismay the leader of my group found an additional half-hour assignment.
To me national service is about discipline, a trait which is sadly lacking in our society. With discipline comes exemplary work ethics, punctuality, leadership, respect for each other, educational pursuits, and many other desirable aspects of nation building. Through its national service, Israel set up border settlements to enhance its security. These border settlements eventually grew into sustainable villages and towns. Guyana’s border security needs are the same.
Yours truly,
Abraham David

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With regards to claims of rape in the Guyana National Service, it is not too late to report

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