Guyana Observer News

By Michael Jordan

President of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA)  Michael Mc Cormack believes that there should be “a more serious investigation” into the death of Assistant Superintendent Ivelaw Murray, although police officials have indicated that the case is as good as closed. Mr. Mc Cormack confirmed yesterday that Murray’s father, retired Superintendant, Ivan Daniels, who believes that his son was murdered, had approached the GHRA. “The facts, in our view, require a more serious investigation,” The GHRA President told Kaieteur News. “An inquest is probably the way to go…the circumstances require an inquest, and we are still reviewing what other steps should be taken.” The dead rank’s father told Kaieteur News that the family had handed some documents pertaining to the case to the GHRA as well as to the Police Complaints Authority (PAC).

Dear Editor,

Though not wanting to go into details of the AFC’s decision to rule out an electoral alliance with the PNC, Mr. Corbin, its leader has seen it fit to take a jab by opining that such a decision is “shortsighted”. Moreover, he insinuates that it was not a decision which identifies with the desires of the people. his is the same PNC leader who when the AFC was formed sarcastically announced that he is “underwhelmed by this new formation” and literally laughed it off. There was no doubt that Corbin was ad idem with Donald Ramotar who at the time said it was a “wishy washy” party.

Dear Editor,

I refer to your article of Friday 30th July on Pages3 and 11 concerning a police woman who refused to be obstructed in the performance of her duties by not taking a cell phone call from a high judicial functionary when she was investigating an incident. This police woman has been condemned and denigrated by the Commissioner of Police without a hearing in a tendentious attempt to defend the indefensible behaviour of the high judicial functionary. The report raises many unanswered questions which the public ought to know and not be left to guess or surmise who is the high judicial functionary? Was that person a High Court Judge, the Chief Justice or even the Chancellor himself? It is not fair to any of these functionaries to be condemned unjustly.

…as thousands transform National Park into a kaleidoscope of colours

The National Park was a sea of colors and patterns yesterday afternoon as thousands of Guyanese thronged the venue as race, color, class and creed were all set aside and folks gathered to celebrate 172 years since the abolition of slavery. African prints, characteristic for their eye catching geometric designs and vivid colors were everywhere. Eric Phillips, Head of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) told those gathered that Emancipation was a holiday for all Guyanese, pointing out that had it not been for the freedom of the slaves, there would not have been the importation of the indentured labourers, all of whom helped to form the cultural diversity that is Guyana.

By Freddie Kissoon

A columnist of this newspaper posited an election victory for the PPP next year because he said debt rescheduling has left the economy in a much better state. Statistics do not support that contention but let’s dwell on the debt. The columnist who made that observation omitted to provide context. here has been no evidence that debt rescheduling was an achievement of any leader who received it. The cancellation of the Third World’s debt was a global issue that occupied the thoughts of the people who were in a position to help the Third World, that is, the G7 group. The Third World could have put a Michael Manley, a Forbes Burnham or an Indira Gandhi in the conference room and the terms would have been dictated by the G7 countries. he major part of the debt of the eleven poorest nations in the entire world was erased by the G7 three and a half years ago and in that category was Guyana. Interesting to note (and I wrote this shortly after) in that generous offer, Burkino Faso got better treatment than many others. I wrote this at the time because here in Guyana some politicians in the corridors of power were talking about Guyana’s leadership role in the debt write-off. That was far from the truth. The forgiveness was an act of the G7 in which British PM Tony Blair had to wrest compromise from President George Bush.

The PNCR said as Guyana celebrates the 172nd anniversary of the emancipation of slaves the country finds itself “in the throes of its worst post-Independence governance crisis.” In a press release the party said like slave owners the present rulers have resorted to the tactic of divide and rule and bribery to gain political advantage in the run-up to the National and Regional Elections due next year. It referred to Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall’s statement that he would be glad if a health crisis broke out in the city in order to oust the current Mayor and City Council while central government starves the council of revenue and has denied it permission to undertake legitimate revenue raising measures. At the national level the party said there is widespread racial and political discrimination, human rights violations, a pervading sense of insecurity and hopelessness due to unemployment and the high cost of living, a burgeoning drug culture and descent into lawlessness and immorality.

My fellow Guyanese, 177 years ago the abolition of slavery legislation was signed, which decreed that it was unlawful for others to own, buy and sell our ancestors like articles of common property. After centuries of an enduring holocaust of African peoples, the signing of this act was akin to some light at the end of a tunnel of suffering that had no parallel in the history of human kind. As we look back with grief and sorrow at the tribulation our ancestors had to endure throughout the centuries of their captivity, we need to find space in our hearts for pride in recognition of the dignity and courage with which they comported themselves, confronted their situation. A dignity and courage that they handed down to us, but which, sadly, seem to be rapidly dissipating as we face our own tribulation in an era in Guyana rank with racial hostility, hatred, and revenge driven discriminatory policies and attitudes.