Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 19, 2012 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
On April 3rd, 2012, President Donald Ramotar told the Guyanese people, via local media reports, that a decision on embattled Police Commissioner Henry Greene will be made in ‘a few days time’. It has been more than two weeks since this statement by the president and to date the nation is still waiting for that decision, the obvious question then would be; what is a few days time?
It has been almost three months since the Commissioner essentially admitted to engaging in grave professional misconduct. A Jamaican team, identified by the government, investigated the allegations of rape against Commissioner Greene and recommended that action be taken against Mr. Greene, as they found that he in fact committed acts which can be justly deemed unprofessional, unethical, and I dare say highly immoral.
The facts of this case are known and so I will not attempt to restate them here. However, I must say that it is most contemptuous of the decent people of this country for President Ramotar to continue to treat this matter as a minor issue, for which he might be hoping that the people will forget.
The President takes for granted the fact that how he and the government deal with this particular case may in fact affect how we, as a people, might be viewed around the world. It will obviously question our moral and ethical standards as a people.
So far, the government and particularly the president have displayed a dangerous disinterest in dealing condignly with this matter, and the fact that they are apparently continuing to treat with this most important issue as inconsequential, or of no great concern, is an affront to the decent people of this country. However, this posture, the world and in particular our Caribbean brothers and sisters must know, is not reflective of the people of Guyana, and in no way should be construed as a means by which the moral and ethical standards of Guyanese should be judged.
It is true that any government who prides itself in protecting the image of its country and people would have acted swiftly to ensure that the moral and ethical values which identified us as a people are protected.
This brings me to the current scandal with President Obama’s Secret Service agents who went to Colombia as his advance team a few days ago. In that situation, it was reported that prostitutes were seen, apparently, leaving the hotel rooms of some of the agents. Before the President could have arrived in Colombia, for his official visit the next day, those agents were recalled to the United States and another group sent to replace them, and an investigation commenced immediately.
I have listened to two female members of the United States Congress – one a Republican and the other a Democrat – commenting on this matter on international television and stating that the matter is serious and must be thoroughly investigated. They agree that while it is not yet known whether the agents committed any illegal acts, the US must act swiftly, to ensure that the high moral and ethical standards on which the country prides itself is protected. For them, it was all about protecting the values, ethics and morals of the people of the United States.
This ‘Secret Service Sex Scandal’ has now become the subject of much debate and a massive investigation. Eight of the eleven agents under investigation have already had their security clearances revoked. All this has happened less than three days after the incident occurred.
We, in Guyana, are waiting months for the president to relieve the Top Cop of his duties, even after this most senior law enforcement officer has, himself, admitted to engaging in acts largely deemed highly improper, unethical and unprofessional, while holding the office of Commissioner of Police.
Many Guyanese, scores of citizens and organizations from all sides of the political spectrum, came out boldly and protested and/or denounced Commissioner Greene’s action, but to date the government, and the president, have refused to recognise the legitimate concerns of the people, on this matter.
It therefore begs the question as to whether in this democracy, it is the executive that is the government, and not the people. It also begs the question as to whether the President and government believe that this scenario represents their own moral and ethical standards, since clearly this situation does not sit well with Guyanese.
While any reasonable person would have expected Mr. Greene to act honourably and resign, he remains in his position. I am, however, now convinced that this episode is now beyond Mr. Greene and has raised serious questions regarding the President and the government’s stance on issues that matter to the people of Guyana. It also suggests that there might be other ‘squirmy’ reasons, unknown to us, as to why the government seems to treat this matter as one of no great concern to the people of Guyana. Who therefore, will look out for the people of Guyana, and protect their values, morals and ethical standards when those in authority relinquish this most basic responsibility?
Lurlene Nestor
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