Hamilton Green Urges National Action Against Democratic Erosion and Abuse of Power
Dear Editor,
Looking at Guyana with our descent into the depths of a new style dictatorship and depravity, lubricated with massive wealth and a well-funded propaganda outfit, the mid-term US elections give us food for thought and hope. With a sense of history, I recall the words of Sir Walter Scott in the poem Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field; “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!” This statement fits neatly into what our country experienced between 1992 to 2011 and from 2020 to present.
We must, all of us, do what we can to prevent further deterioration of the present situation in Guyana. They say the pen is mightier than the sword, so let us write. If this statement can bring us relief, let our religious, social, business organisations and the independent media pursue the path of writing, reasoning, and speaking, to secure the attention and understanding of Guyanese everywhere. This effort will ensure, with patience, our path to peace, so we can blunt the swagger and sentence of the sword.
A snapshot of the news this week is troubling, and demands urgent action;
- A young man dies while in police custody in a West Demerara police station, the Minister responsible for the police asseverates that the police would investigate, a classic case of “putting a thief to catch a thief”, who is fooling who? We must not forget this apparent brutality is not new in West Demerara police stations. Recall October 2009, the horrific torture of 15-year-old Tywon Thomas, whose genitals were burnt while in custody at the Leonora Police Station.
- Mr. Mohamed, Leader of the opposition, a constitutional office, and two young constables, have been charged under a legal provision that, some attorneys I have spoken to suggest, is not clear. We must not be deflected by this inhumane treatment of a man, a member of parliament, in a prison environment not known for its healthy and humane conditions.
But, beyond that, I have been in the political hustings since the early 50s, and the obtaining of, and accumulation of information, by a variety methods, from the other side or perceived enemy, including information from organisations and states, even those considered friendly, has been traditional. Our erstwhile masters the British taught us how to do it. The Americans and European States expend substantial resources to gather information. Indian subcontinent, Chinese subcontinent, Latin America and just about everywhere all do it, mind you, operatives need to be skilled, not clumsy. They need to be professional and not easily tempted by a few dollars.
- Citizens may well consider the above as a distraction from this week’s revelations that Guyana will only receive a mere US$3B from gold and copper mines worth over US$21B. Believe it or not.
- The absurdity of the incomplete Port Kaituma Wharf has again surfaced this week, and Guyanese are again treated to a comedy by our ‘top brass’.
- This week, communities at Linden are protesting against poor electricity and water supply, those of us in Georgetown and other areas, would say; ‘welcome to the club, no big thing’.
Even as this administration treats life as being trivial, we note, the police firing at groups of citizens, gathered together to express their concern about how the Leader of the Opposition is being shackled and taken into a courtroom. This unacceptable behaviour by certain persons, is not new. I remember a young man who worked with me, Inspector Leyland October, who was shot and killed, in September 2002 on Sussex Street, no proper inquiry or inquest.
I recall PPP Minister Satyadeow Shaw, who was killed in April 2006, to date, in spite of pleas from family members, no proper inquest by the PPP establishment. Recall Donald Allison and Cliff Chichester both killed and their families still await justice.
We have had no explanations, or inquest into these deaths and many others, yet we proclaim our democratic credentials.
Yours truly
Elder Hamilton Green
Source: Village Voice News
