It is with measured consideration that I address your recent letter concerning the remarks I made regarding the deaths of the disappeared Afro-Guyanese during the reign of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Your critique, while spirited, fundamentally misapprehends the gravity of the issues at hand and the solemn duty we owe to the memories of those lost. Allow me to address the points you have raised, not to deflect but to bring clarity and a renewed focus on the path forward—a path that undeniably leads to a Commission of Inquiry.
You have taken umbrage at the figures mentioned—whether 1,200 or 400—but to reduce the discussion to a debate over numbers is to miss the forest for the trees. Every life lost, regardless of the count, represents an irreplaceable human soul, and the Afro-Gyyanese community has borne the disproportionate brunt of such losses throughout history, from the Middle Passage to the modern era. To argue over whether it was 1,200 or 400 deaths is an insult to the community, as the death of even a single individual, of any ethnicity, through state-sponsored violence is a tragedy that demands accountability and justice.
Your fixation on my alleged reluctance to provide exact figures seems to suggest that the magnitude of the atrocity determines its significance. This is a perilous notion that trivializes the suffering of those affected. It is akin to questioning the severity of a calamity based on whether it crosses a certain numerical threshold. The Holocaust, as you rightly noted, is meticulously documented, but would its horrors diminish if the number of victims were less than six million? Certainly not. The pursuit of truth and justice for our disappeared brethren should not be reduced to a statistical squabble.
You assert that I deflect and evade scrutiny, shifting narratives without addressing the core issues. On the contrary, I have consistently called for a thorough investigation into the era marked by these heinous crimes. My insistence on a Commission of Inquiry stems from the need for a comprehensive, impartial examination of the evidence—evidence that must be brought to light in a formal and structured setting. The responsibility of presenting this evidence should not rest solely on one individual but on a collective judicial mechanism capable of uncovering the full extent of the truth. The government has both the capability and resources to initiate such an activity.
Your mention of President David Granger’s inability to convene a comprehensive inquiry due to a lack of evidence highlights precisely why such a commission is necessary. The scattered and incomplete narratives we currently have only serve to perpetuate confusion and division. An inquiry would consolidate these fragments into a coherent account, enabling justice for the victims and closure for their families.
The various examples you cited—the Warrau immigrants, the 2020 election saga, the No-Confidence Motion case, and the Exim Bank loan—are attempts to paint a pattern of unsubstantiated claims. Yet, each of these instances is a symptom of a deeper malaise within our political and judicial systems, which can only be addressed through structural reforms and comprehensive investigations. The call for constitutional reform, which you disparage, is in fact a call to restore trust and integrity to these very systems.
The plight of the disappeared Afro-Guyanese is not a mere footnote in our history but a chapter that cries out for justice. The Commission of Inquiry I advocate for is not a diversionary tactic but a necessary step towards national healing and reconciliation. It is a call to confront our past with honesty and courage, to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated, and to reaffirm our commitment to the dignity and sanctity of every human life.
In closing, Mr. Sankar, I urge you to join me in this call for a Commission of Inquiry. Let us move beyond partisan rhetoric and work together to uncover the truth, honour the memory of the lost, and lay the groundwork for a more just and equitable future for all Guyanese.
Sincerely,
Nigel Hughes
