We have to create the space and opportunities for frank, honest and open conversations on the state of affairs in our country. We have to be our brothers and sisters keepers; we have to join hands against a wicked government bent on dividing the people through several discriminatory actions as they threw crumbs to a few to buy silence and quiet complicity. Only as a united force can we succeed.
As Guyanese we must share the unity of purpose and expression of our pains and anguish with the human rights and other abuses the PPP regime is meeting out to our people. And when I say our people, I mean all Guyanese. We are being hurt and slowly destroyed by the Jagdeo/Ali regime hungry thirst for power and total domination.
We must become awakened to the PPP tactics of distraction. Be wise, focused, vocal and resistant to their attempts to subjugate and enslave us. Give no reason, or the slightest opportunity for them to take the spotlight off of the real terrorists among us, their covert and overt criminal acts, their oppression, anti-democratic practices, state-sanctioned murders and police excesses, their fake and uneven development and crooked developers, their friends of notoriety and infamy and their provocation of violence in this land that will threaten the interests of all.
Civil society, the international community and others are being called on to take note of what is happening here and come together, speak out, and avert the potential of disruptions in our development process and harm to our most vulnerable.
I condemn the treatment meted out to WPA Member Tacuma Ogunseye who the police have held over the weekend. I say there must be better means by which Guyanese facing police charges are treated.
These are modern times, and our judicial system must put in place systems whereby citizens do not have to be detained longer than is necessary. This must cease. It is time to put in place around the clock service.
Unnecessary detention in itself is a form of punishment that may be wrong in terms of whether the detainee is found guilty or not. Time for prison reform and time for the PPP to stop using the judicial system to enact political vengeance.
I raise my voice in a call for Tacuma Ogunseye to be freed and not used to send a message to other Guyanese that they are not free to express political opinions. The pettiness of the PPP must stop. We know too well that there are others in society whom the police would dare not even touch even in instances where murders and other serious crimes occur.
It is violence when the government of any country seeks ways and means to detain and imprison citizens on trumped up charges hiding behind laws to limit freedom of expression.
These and countless other violent actions of the PPP, such as denying Opposition supporters equal economic opportunities, substantial contracts and benefits of cash transfer, and financial support during disasters, are known to all Guyanese. It is the PPP’s way of saying to Opposition supporters that they are in the wrong lane and have no right to freedom of association.
They have committed these acts of violence against sections of the labour force, denying them the basic right to collective bargaining.
In a land of less than 1 million people, this nation has just unveiled a prison to house over 600 inmates. This act is heralded by the government as an achievement and not an unfortunate need. Rather than heralding new prisons as development we should be developing programmes to lift people out of the morass that influence behaviours leading to incarceration.
In recent times a number of wanted bulletins have been issued. This is unprecedented and we must ask if this is the PPP’s new strategy to criminalise a section of the population and create a constant flow of persons to prisons where many may lose their rights.
These are acts of violence and we must condemn them. No one should suffer unduly more than the likely fine or time he will serve. Each must be held innocent until proven guilty in a court of law not court of public opinion. But the PPP plan is to label African Guyanese as terrorists and place them on the brink of society.
Even as they do this, they have no answer to the many complaints of police taking bribes, being corrupt and acting as judge and jury. They have little value for human life and we must never forget the scores of bodies gunned down in the streets and backlands of Guyana under the Jagdeo regime.
It is violence when they deny many among us the right to work and the right to earn. This type of political and economic violence has been done to many public servants and GECOM workers post 2020 elections. Mind you those who are so denied have no welfare support to render them financial assistance and may experience problems in meeting their financial obligations.
The Jagdeo evil has been allowed to swamp this nation. We have moved from death squads, narco militarisation and narco related murders to wanton discrimination and attempts to destroy black professionals and the black business class. No longer must we remain silent in the presence of such abuse and violence against the working-class citizens of this nation.
We must be Jagdeo’s worst nightmare by exposing him and the Ali regime and their rights abuse. He and cabal must never rest in peace once we cannot rest in peace. We must keep them busy; we must keep them on their toes, making them uncomfortable. Enough is enough!
