Harmon informs CARICOM Chair of injustices in Guyana

…highlights WCB murders, firing of public servants, inequitable distribution of COVID-19 cash grant

Chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley has been made aware by Guyana’s Opposition Leader of the unsolved murders of the West Coast Berbice (WCB) teens; the firing of Afro-Guyanese public servants and the alleged discriminate distribution of the COVID-19 relief cash grant in Guyana.

On Thursday, in a letter to Dr. Rowley who this year assumed Chairmanship, Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon called for support and advocacy towards the issues of democracy and justice in Guyana.

Harmon pointed out that since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took office on August 2, 2020, a large number of Afro-Guyanese have been fired without cause and during the global health crisis.

“…the PPP administration has embarked on an unmistakable and vicious campaign, including firing over 1000 Afro-Guyanese public servants without just cause or basis. Many of these are single mothers who are the sole breadwinners of their households. Innocent apolitical Afro-Guyanese professionals are being persecuted, dubiously arrested and charged on trumped up charges,” Harmon stated.

Further, he turned attention to the WCB teen murders which the Administration has vowed to spare no effort to solve but has been unable to for over four months. Criticism from the families of the young boys and the public has come to the Guyana Police Force (GFP) and the Ministry of Home Affairs, that a lethargic, careless approach has been adopted in the ongoing investigations.

Harmon told Rowley: “…the heinous murder of two young Afro-Guyanese boys and their Indo-Guyanese friend has remained unsolved months later and the regime has shown little interest in providing the resources and engaging in the collaboration to bring closure and pursue justice. These brutal murders and the marking of X’s in the skulls of the two boys have outraged Guyanese of all walks of life, yet their murderers are free and unbothered.”

Also, on the list of complaints was the distribution of the $25,000 COVID-19 cash grant. The sum is expected to reach every household but the Administration has failed to do so equitably.

Several members of the Opposition and public have accused the distributors – often dressed in party colors – of intentionally skipping some neighborhoods or homes for political reason. Harmon told Dr. Rowley that a detailed update in subsequent documents would be provided to support the concerns raised.

“I look forward to engaging with you to discuss these and other critical matters in the near future, even if virtually as necessitated by the circumstances… as you have articulated in your Chairman’s message, we must emerge from the darkness of the past year and emerge into the light of 2021. We look forward to your leadership, support and advocacy in the issues of democracy and justice in Guyana,” the Opposition Leader said.

He also thanked Dr. Rowley for the interest shown in Guyana generally and specifically with regards to the impasse of 2020 General and Regional Elections. He remined the CARICOM Chair that the Opposition is challenging the result of the elections by way of election petitions before the High Court.