When Lawlessness Becomes the Law

Feb 07, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

The video now circulating from Guyana — showing a man being brutally beaten by a mob — should disturb every person who believes in justice, humanity, and the rule of law.

Let me be clear: if a child was harmed, that is evil. It demands swift, serious, lawful consequences. But what we witnessed in that clip was not justice. It was rage. It was vigilantism. It was a public execution attempt.

You could have restrained the suspect.

You could have called the police.

You could have protected the child while preserving human life.

Instead, you chose violence.

You took the law into your own hands.

And in doing so, you crossed the same moral line you claim to condemn.

What if that man had died? Would you then justify it by saying “an eye for an eye”? Who gave you the authority to decide who lives and who dies? That power belongs only to the courts — not to angry crowds fueled by emotion. This is exactly how societies collapse: when citizens replace due process with fists, when mob justice replaces legal justice, and when anger overrides humanity.

Make no mistake — every person involved in that beating exposed themselves to serious criminal liability: assault, grievous bodily harm, and even attempted murder. A prosecutor will not view this lightly. These are offences that carry real prison time. Some may argue that emotions run high when children are involved. That is true. But emotion is not law. Anger is not evidence. Violence is not justice.

Justice means investigation.

Justice means arrest.

Justice means trial.

Justice means sentencing by a court of law.

Justice does not mean dragging a suspect into the street and beating him into unconsciousness while phones record and bystanders cheer.

What troubles me most is what this incident reveals about a deeper sickness — a growing acceptance of lawlessness. When people believe the system has failed them, they turn to brutality. But street justice only creates more victims, more trauma, and more criminals.

My heart goes out to the innocent child. That child deserves protection, counseling, and real justice — not chaos masquerading as righteousness. Guyana must decide what kind of society it wants to be.

One governed by laws — or one ruled by mobs. I sincerely hope law enforcement acts decisively, not only against the alleged offender, but also against those who participated in this savage attack. Accountability must be universal, or it means nothing.

We cannot heal a wounded society by inflicting more violence. We heal it by standing firmly on law, order, and human dignity.

Justice must live in the courtroom — not in the streets.

Regards,

Tony Mark Ramjewan

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