Dear Editor,
Tuesday, President Irfaan Ali visited Linden to meet with the grieving families of Ronaldo Peters and Keon Fogenay, two young men whose lives were taken by an excessive and unjustified use of force by the Guyana Police Force.
I, along with all Lindeners, strongly condemn the actions of those officers and demand swift JUSTICE from an independent investigation and reform in the Guyana police force.
I attended that meeting as the people’s Parliamentary representative with one goal: to seek solutions to end these senseless killings and stand with the families in their pain. People I know personally.
At the start of the meeting, the President shook my hand among many others present.
When it comes to matters of state, being respectful and courteous to the Head of State is a no-brainer decision for me; it will always come naturally without isms and skisms. This is expected as a matter of basic courtesy rules and maxims we learn at an early age.
Deviation from such basic norms should be saved for cases of collective national rebellion for just cause, which does not currently exist in our country. Strangely, again, my latest act of basic decency has yet again led to attacks from a few usual suspects, calling me the names we are now so familiar with.
Had I not exercise common courtesy by shaking the President’s hand, the media would have focused on me instead of the real issues, the violence, the affected families, the fatherless children, the heart broken mothers and the injustice carried out against these young men whose life was taken unjustly.
So, I ask every Guyanese, when politicians/leaders are consumed by hate, self-interest, pettiness, and racism, who truly suffers? Who really benefits?
I have dedicated my life to the people of Region 10 as their APNU Parliamentarian, beyond the RHETORIC. I fight for justice, not personal gain.
If we continue down this path of division, destruction, disunity, and injustice, where does it lead us? Who wins?
Guyana and its people,First! Forward Ever, Backward Never!
Yours truly
Hon. Jermaine Figueira.MP
