LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER SHOULD BE FIRED AND CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE

Jun 02, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – Criminal Negligent Homicide is the most applicable expression for the 20 young lives lost in the Mahdia fire. As reported by the Fire Service, there were prior warnings of existing lethal conditions in the sleeping area of the dormitory of children, yet not a single official/administrator even attempted to correct the indicated dangers. In November 2022, the Fire Department issued warnings and with a follow up visit in February 2023, only to find out that their recommendations were cast aside and not implemented. If this is not criminal negligence by the local government minister and by extension the government, then what is? The student who set the fire has been charged, but others need to be charged also for the 20 precious and young lives lost in the deadly inferno. We know that this is not a caring government, but those government employees whose duty was to care for the students are culpable, because they did not do due diligence to protect the children entrusted to their care.

Let it be known that the ministry responsible for the untimely death of those children is Local Government, headed by a classical misfit and a womanizer who many believe is the most incompetent, arrogant, rude, obscene, and vulgar member of the Cabinet. There is no question that he must be forced to resign or get fired by the President for dereliction of duties and be charged with Criminal negligent homicide. Also, the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of the region should also be fired and the PPP/C government, which controls the regional administration, should accept full responsibility for the loss of those young children’s lives. I am puzzled as to why the honcho and de facto president who controls every facet of the government and who comments on every little issue has remained silent. The people should know that he will speak on the death of the children only when the issue appears to be quiet down, and when he does, it will be the most foolish, idiotic, unwise, absurd, and bizarre statement ever. This twist is like the asinine, moron, and foolhardy minister of local government.

One resident on video alleges that the Minister of Amerindian Affairs had from time to time visited Mahdia but never met with the people or even visited the community but goes out at nights to gamble. She should be investigated because it is the taxpayers’ money that paid for her airfare and accommodation. Instead of this corrupt, vindictive, selfish, nasty, shameless, and ruthless government ask the minister of local government to resign, its honcho and de facto president will try to place the blame elsewhere like what he did with the 450 black youths his government killed during its 23 years in office. It is time for the Amerindian people to revolt against them and not accept their bribes, but demand to have full control of the territory and to govern themselves. The truth is, since independence in May 1966, which is almost 60 years ago, both the PPP and PNC governments have done very little for the Amerindian people other than to destroy their lives and make them poorer. In fact, they are still being treated as third class citizens in Guyana where Indians are regarded as first class and blacks as second-class citizens.

Disaster Management Experts have concluded that in Guyana, on both the coastal belt and in the hinterland, disaster preparedness is sadly close to non-existent and that no concrete has been made over the years to train individuals or implement one.

Little rains produce massive flooding as drainage pumps regularly malfunction and trenches, waterways and canals are frequently blocked with garbage, blackouts continue to plague the land, projects attract glaringly high costs, public servants detest the people and treat them like dirt, and the Police Force which is directed by the honcho and de facto president determines who to charge or not charge. Not to mention that it is highly corrupt like those in the government.  However, in Guyana, fire safety is the most salient avenue where preventative measures and evacuation procedures exist in Flintstone era. The President and his honcho ought to know that Guyana needs to have proper fire trucks, high pressure fire hydrants in the towns and cities and they should employ well trained and qualified fire experts well dressed in their uniforms. The honcho and de facto president knows that human lives are at stake and urgent measures needed to be enforced, but his primary focus is to build bridges, roads and stadiums, but not improve the living conditions of the poor. Truth be told, he has chosen infrastructure over the lives of the people which in his own words: this is not negotiable.

Regards
Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine
Real Estate Builder
New York