Twenty-five (25) men and women have joined Red Thread in condemning Attorney-at-Law Nirvan Singh for allegedly abusing a female police officer physically and verbally.
Shawnette Bollers, a female Special Constable attached to the Guyana Police Force, has alleged that Singh abused her while she was keeping watch at his father’s Cummings Street property on March 20. Singh’s father is former acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh.
Bollers, who has since filed a $150M lawsuit against the Attorney, said she was called “a monkey, a black monkey.” Bollers was reportedly told that “you Black people have no purpose in life.”
In a joint statement, the activists said weeks after the special constable was allegedly assaulted, chased, spat upon and subjected to vile racial slurs while on official duty no known action has been taken by the Guyana Police Force to charge the alleged perpetrator. Further to that, the women said to date, Government has not condemned the actions of the Attorney.
For the activists, Government’s silence on the matter does not augur well for its “One Guyana” mantra.
“We continue to see and witness actions which appear to contradict racial and ethnic unity and equality and equity. Discrimination continues to stalk Guyana and cannot be wished away by nice words and photo shoots. For Guyana to fulfil its mandate of one people, one nation and one destiny, we all must recognize that we are a multi-racial, multi- ethnic country and find all means to ensure that all ethnic groups, be they the majority or a minority, have confidence that any and all discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, geography, social status, sexual orientation, disability, religion or political affiliation (perceived or otherwise) will not be tolerated,” the activists said.
It was pointed out that Guyana is not only a signatory to but has ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which mandates that Governments engage in no act or practice of racial discrimination against persons, groups of persons or institutions.
“We commend Ms. Shawnette Bollers for her courage in making a report and taking her own legal action,” they said while urging the Police Force to ensure that the allegations are fully investigated, and appropriate action taken.
“We join Red Thread and stand in solidarity with all survivors of racial and ethnic discrimination,” they said.
Danuta Radzik, Sherlina Nageer, Vidyaratha Kissoon, Salima Hinds, Vanda Radzik, Josephine Whitehead, Jocelyn Dow, Janette Bulkan, Akola Thompson, Colin Klautky, LaToya Williams, Joan McDonald, Suraiya Ismail, Joel Simpson, Melinda Janki, Nicole Cole, Charlene Wilkinson, Raquel Thomas, Lisa Edwards, Ayo Dalgety Dean, Ingrid Sarabo, Mellissa Ifill, Millie Milton, Dr. Rei-launya Amsterdam and Zoe Sarabo signed the statement.
A number of organisations have condemned the lawyer’s action. The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said it is appalled by the incident in which policewoman, Shawnette Bollers, was the victim of a most vile and depraved racial attack by Attorney-at-law Nirvan Singh, while she was on guard duties at his premises on the night of March 20th.
