Guyana Observer News

By: Mark A. Benschop
With all the brutal crimes committed in Guyana under the PPP/C regime, it is quite impossible to conclude that there’s any hope for Guyana under this undemocratic and murderous government. To describe the government of Guyana as being undemocratic and murderous is just using words that are reasonable enough for your understanding, especially since harsher words could have been used to describe a regime and it’s leaders who should have all been (and will possibly) facing charges in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity especially under the ‘leadership’ of President Bharat Jagdeo.

Many Guyanese are running out of patience with the International Community especial the United States of America for not ensuring that those very senior government officials, army, police and prison officers who have played a role in extra-judicial killings, drugs dealings, hit men, and torture be brought to justice. However, optimism has increased with the promises made by the newly elected President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Obama.

What is even more baffling is the fact that some members of the ailing judiciary are party to the above mentioned crimes, so much so that some of them receive hefty bribes in order to secure the freedom of murder accused, drug lords and other known “high tech” criminals in Guyana.

Just to give a few examples:

(1)  Mr. Kellawan Lall, a minister of the government was involved in a gun battle with a youngster over the minister’s ‘girlfriend’. Mr. Lall then allegedly fired several rounds at the youth before injuring him with the said gun. After a report was made by the youngster at the Sparendam Police Station, the police failed to arrest the alleged criminal in question. In fact, no charges were filed bringing an end to the disgraceful matter. The gun touting minister of the government is still on the job.

(2)  Minister Kellawan Lall’s wife died under mysterious circumstances after she was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital in a taxi where she subsequently died. No police saw it fit to question Lall about what led to his wife’s demise.

(3)  A junior minister in the PPP allegedly sexually assaulted a young woman, and after the matter was reported to the Albertown Police Station the minister (whose name is Dr. B. R) settled the matter with the girl’s family. And that was the end of the matter.

(4)  Former Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj was part of a government sponsored death squad (this is what led to the US State Department and the Canadian government revoking his Visas. There were a preponderance of evidence to suggest that  he knew of most murders, and also ordered the death of many. Yet, upon resigning from his post, President Jagdeo sent him to India as Guyana’s ambassador.

(5)  Former acting police chief, Floyd McDonald was said to have been part of the country’s criminal gang (the Phantom death squad). During his tenure as the Top COP he issued hundreds of gun licenses to supporters of the PPP regime including many drug lords and other criminals. After he retired, the PPP gave him a desk job at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Mr. McDonald also had his Visas revoked by the US State Department and the Canadian government.

(6)  Henry Greene as Crime Chief, was said to have been part of the infamous Phantom Death Squad, headed by known government functionaries and Roger Khan. He was listed in the US State Department Report of Drugs as benefited from the drug trade. For this, his US and Canadian Visas were revoked. Yet, Jagdeo promoted him as the country’s Police Chief.