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Jan 07, 2016 Letters
Dear Editor,
Racial conflagration is completely unjustified, if it is in retaliation for prosecution of PPP Officials for alleged corruption offenses against the state of Guyana. Ironically PPP Presidents have called for prosecutions, without introducing race. The letter, and threats therein by General Secretary, Clement Rohee ( KN,30/12/2015 ), exposes a disturbing intolerance by public officials to criticism, freedom of expression and the right of Guyanese citizens to seek justice. Editor, restrictions on space forces us to truncate quotations and to select only some of the many possible observations to the flavour of the letter.
First, the letter exposes the author to the risk of being accused of exactly what he accused others of, that is, an agent provocateur stirring the race pot. Look at the words;
(i) “…what they could not achieve in the past, by threats of armed rebellion and as “freedom fighters” against the PPP/C Indian “coolie” government,
(ii) an urban based, black-dominated upper middle-class elite in power
(iii) the use of threats and intimidation seeks to force the Granger administration to resort to vengeful and race-based instruments to achieve their objectives…”
There is dark venom race baiting in all three elements. Inclusion of the term ‘coolie government’ leaves unfinished the task of identifying the user(s) of this term. Reference to “threats and intimidation” has the ring of projection. One is curious as to what are “race -based instruments”. The words and their combination result in virulent strains of racial expressions. The ‘herrings’ in the letter are not only red but Indian and Black, plus a ton of red meat as well.
Second, are Dr. Hinds, Mr. Ogunseye and others aggressive advocates, yes? However, one can find extremely aggressive advocates among all political forces in Guyana, including the PPP. Do they intend that due process and the law should take its course? One assumed so. There is much room to dispute what “extremist positions” are in the circumstances. However, Guyanese cannot be told, however cute, to shut up, back off and live with whatever the PPP officials are alleged to have done or else, ‘fire under the race cauldron’ could follow. Citizens have a right to advocate for justice. What we really wish readers to focus on, however, is this: it is the accused who foresees ‘fire under the racial cauldron’, not the seekers of justice, since those named have only asserted, in essence, (however aggressively) that evidence exist; therefore action should be taken .
Third, the PPP itself confronted the issue of corruption, and its Presidents appear riveted on the principle that action should be taken against corrupt persons, if evidence exists. Ralph Ramkarran recalled that ‘…after the 2001 general elections, President Janet Jagan established an Anti-Corruption Committee, and supervised the first case, where a PPP official investigated was declared guilty of corruption. However, Mr. Ramotar, the PPP’s General Secretary refused to take action…’. President Jagdeo said in August 2008 that: “…any government officers found guilty of corruption involving public funds should be jailed…Where we have corrupt people they should face the full brunt of the law… They should be charged and taken to court…”.As Leader of the Opposition in October 2015, he said, “Find the people, and lock them up. What is the problem…?” President, Ramotar said in 2012: “We will work to root out corruption in our society”, and in 2013 he uttered these words: “I will fire any cabinet minister guilty of corruption”. In addition, the 30th PPP Congress in August 2013 declared that, ‘…Furthermore, we support… the party in firmly addressing such cases of corruption wheresoever they are found in a timely manner’. So how does race fit in?
Fourth, the Constitution and the Procurement Act apply to Guyanese without regard to race. PPP administrations enacted laws which provide for action against persons in breach, such as the Integrity Commission Act. One is reminded that it is understood that corruption allegations are against specific individuals, some of whom happen to be Indo-Guyanese and PPP, not Indo-Guyanese. Ironically, two accused persons now before the Court are both Afro-Guyanese; so where does race fit in? Finally, one expects feisty rebuttals from Mr. Rohee. However, some things in the letter may be unnecessary. Whatever his motives, his words may indeed bring about what he foresees; ‘a fire under the racial cauldron’. We hope he knows how to put out such a fire, and to put the race genie back into its bottle once it escapes. Good luck Mr. Rohee. All we can say at this stage is that there may be better ways to settle differences with critics. First win the debate without race baiting. Fire under the ‘racial caldron’ looks bad.
Ivor Carryl
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