Today the earthly remains of teenagers Isaiah and Joel Henry will be interred in their village of West Coast Berbice. Given their ages and the promises that come with youth, it is fair to assume they would rather be alive, facing the joys and challenges of growing into adulthood, dreaming dreams and working hard to achieving them, than be slaughtered and immortalised in a society known for empty talks and unfulfilled promises.
Outcries about how they met their gruesome deaths turned a spotlight on them and the hate crimes. Undoubtedly the teens would have preferred the attention basking in achieving the dream of being a policeman and other milestones they will never be able to achieve. No doubt their parents, relatives, fellow villagers, and others would have preferred the uplifting circumstances. But today as they lay to rest their boys, others continue to seek to criminalise them, words dripping from their mouths like Dracula blood. The haters remain unconcerned this is our collective shame. They care not the desire of the bereaved relatives is not to have the authorities forget them and their pursuit for justice. They are not interested.
Isaiah and Joel’s names, like many, would be etched in our memories and annals of the sordid chapters of Guyana’s history, though hopefully not unresolved. Could the families of these teens dare hope justice will be served? The same question is being asked by others. There is reservation. People remember only too well Crum Ewing, Ronald Waddell, Satyadeo Sawh, and others too numerous to mention, apparently ignored by law enforcement.
Consequently, citizens have not only grown wary of the promise of justice but feel ashamed Guyana stands apart in making no serious effort to ensure justice. Scepticism runs high, not without merit, and President Irfaan Ali should not be unaware his promise that “I will work day and night to get to the bottom of what happened to those teens” will similarly be received. He should not feel offended when people say they do not trust him or his statement, though this is the opportunity to prove them wrong.
Citizens see the same faces, in different roles, but all from a period where heinous crimes were committed and justice yet to be served. What guarantee is there 2020 would be different for the Henry teens, Harish Singh and others? Even the optimists and well-meaning amongst us would like to believe this time it will be different. They would like to think the President would break from the party’s tradition of non-deliverables, even just this time.
It has not escaped attention; it has been more than a week since the murders and nothing of consequence heard. The President pledged to work tirelessly to ensure resolution of the investigation is given the highest priority. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said he does not believe the crime is “politically motivated,” and the Police announced they released those held for questioning and they are to report weekly to the station. The president must know these are not consistent with actions of dealing with any case of “highest priority.”
Given the aforesaid, the family condemnation of violence impeding peaceful protests and their call for peace and racial harmony, though attracting praise are not absolute by themselves. There exists underlying tensions and division among the races and political factions which cannot be ignored. The Village Voice therefore implores attention be paid to these. Reasoned voices and organisations, local and international, have been saying, for the longest while, the realisation of peace are premised on equal rights and justice. It is way past time the politicians pay heed to these basic principles that birthed world peace (e.g. United Nations) and serve to ensure stable societies.
