Category: Letters

Dear Editor, The Indian Action Committee (IAC) is shocked and horrified at the deliberate destruction of the Camp Street jail, which was destroyed by fire on Sunday, July 9, 2017; set simultaneously in several buildings in the compound by dangerous prisoners – many of whom are on death row or serving life sentences for murder. The IAC understands that the now destroyed prison was insanely overcrowded, with at least twice the safe capacity for housing both convicted criminals and those on remand prior to their trials. The IAC is calling…

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Dear Editor, Safely relocating just over 1000 prisoners during the raging inferno that reduced the central prison on Camp Street, in Georgetown, to cinder borders on the miraculous. While a final accounting for all prisoners awaits a search of the cooling compound, the Prison Service staff and the Joint Services who worked with them along with inmates, deserve the highest commendation. This commendation is additionally merited, in light of the provocation of the prison officers club being set alight allegedly by some inmates while being held there as a temporary…

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By Vishnu Bisram In country after country, sugar production in the hands of private cane farmers has shown to be very profitable. It has been so demonstrated in India, Guyana, Trinidad, and in several African and Asian countries, etc. My father and other cane farmers had high productivity, though flooding and drought were serious challenges, on the land because they were motivated to work hard as all the produce belonged to them and not the state. The farmers moved out of cane and rice only after Burnham cheated them of…

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Dear Editor, Press reports state that massive amounts of oil have been discovered in Guyana, and foreign company ExxonMobil has been contracted to explore and carry out the extensive operations to market the “black gold”. While ExxonMobil is spending tens of billions of dollars in the exploration process, concerns are being expressed by Guyanese within and outside of Guyana about the arrangement between the Government and ExxonMobil. The latest came from Nigel Hughes, an outstanding attorney and Director of Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA). Two prominent and highly qualified…

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Dear Editor, Recent reports in the print and electronic media indicate that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) which has been doing an excellent job so far, applied to the court for a warrant to search the home of the former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall for among other things 15 Commonwealth Law Reports. SOCU alleged that Nandlall is unlawfully keeping those books. Relative activities after then left me wondering – wondering why SOCU applied in open court for the warrant. Wondering why the application for the search warrant was not…

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Dear Editor, A 25-year-old with a degree in agronomy was shot to death on Tuesday as he attempted to rob Republic Bank’s Water Street branch. What a tragedy that our young people, even those with tertiary qualifications, are resorting to this type of activity. Seventy per cent of Guyana’s population is made up of persons 35 years and younger and it is no secret that feelings of hopelessness and despair are increasingly engulfing our youth. We have one of the highest youth suicide rates in the world. What an indictment…

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Dear Editor, A group of Guyanese nationalists paid glowing tribute to the Enmore Martyrs last Sunday afternoon at the Liberty Palace in Richmond Hill, New York.  The Enmore Martyrs incident refers to the cold-blooded murder of several sugar workers during a strike on June 16, 1948.  The workers were subjected to inhumane working and living conditions, causing them to take industrial action to force management to improve working conditions. And the British Government ordered troops to open fire on the protesting workers, killing five and injuring scores. The dead were…

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Dear Editor, An opinion poll conducted earlier this month by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association to gauge public views on varied contemporary issues found a population very dissatisfied with Government’s handling of the oil contract, economy, sugar and rice industries, crime, corruption, race relations, and several other issues considered critical to national development. The composition of the respondents (430) reflected the general demographic diversity of the population (41 per cent Indians, 31 per cent Africans, 17 per cent Mixed, 10 per cent Amerindians, one per cent others). The poll…

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Dear Editor, I watch the news often, but was shocked and flabbergasted when I saw the recent behaviour of Minister Raphael Trotman in Parliament. In that debate, Trotman’s behaviour towards former President Bharrat Jagdeo was very disrespectful. His tone of voice and his arrogance leaves much to be desired. He behaves as if his Coalition Government will rule forever, and he is some sort of a God, holding power forever. Though Mr Trotman was raving and ranting like a delirious man, the Speaker of the House failed to dispense his…

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Dear Editor, There has quite recently been much rumpus about the Government of Guyana renting a five-bedroom house for G$500,000 per month for a junior minister, along with covering unlimited VAT, inclusive of electricity consumption. And one can understand why, as the Government is calling on the citizens to tighten their belts, to conserve and to reuse stationery, etc. But, quite frankly, this opulence pales in comparison to the overindulgence occurring at City Hall. How could one cry out for paying G$500,000 per month for a luxurious mansion in a…

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