Posted June 13th. 2008
In a hostile politically charged environment in Guyana during the period June 13, 2007 to the present time, an environment that was characterized by some of the worst forms of depraved actions against citizens across the political and racial divide, WPA, in spite of the constraints imposed on it was still able to carry out a number of the political tasks which it deemed essential to the interest and well being of the country.. These included representational work in a number of areas, continued publication of DACLEAN and the ongoing telecast of the Walter Rodney Groundings program on HBTV Channel 9. The party also remained an important contributor of ideas and insights on critical National issues affecting the nation. It also maintained its links with the Guyanese Diaspora in the wider world and remained a vehicle through which information on the situation in Guyana is communicated. The party also retained its contact with the diplomatic community both locally, regionally and internationally.

As we reflect on the period since we observed the twenty-seventh anniversary of Walter Rodney's assassination it is agonizingly clear that the issues which we had then identified as impacting negatively on the lives of all Guyanese and particularly the working people are the very issues that today continue to affect the lives of Guyanese in a profound way:

* bad governance

*VAT and the wildly escalating cost of living

*the trampling of citizens' fundamental rights

* unprecedented levels of violence against women and children

* rape of the collective bargaining process

* the low levels of remuneration to workers

* the spreading drug scourge

* the deteriorating crime/security situation

* poor health services

* a dysfunctional administration of justice system

* runaway corruption in high places

When a number of other developments are also taken into consideration viz:-

* the collapse of the Rule of Law

* the ominously recurrent use of torture, with apparent government sanction, by the Security Forces as an instrument of crime fighting,

* the confirmation in a US Court of Roger Khan's involvement in the execution of a large number of Guyanese,

* the silence of the government on the need for the security forces to track down and take possession of the more than 300 weapons Roger Khan had said that he would use to protect the PPPC during the 2006 elections,

* the ranting of President Jagdeo, Minister Rohee and HPS Roger Luncheon against certain decisions of the courts,

* the continuing detention of Oliver Hinckson on charges of sedition,

* the threat of assassination in the Guyana Chronicle against WPA's Deon Abrams,

* the four months shut down of C N Sharma's television station, CNS TV 6,

* the threats by the government and the police against the constitutionally protected right of citizens to protest and the banning of marches and protest action around Parliament and on Regent Street,

* the ongoing arbitrary imposition of wages and salaries in clear violation of ILO Conventions,

* the ongoing unchecked corruption of officials occupying high government office,

* the several undisclosed details of sweetheart deals between government and party hangers-on,

* the connection between the drug lords, senior police officers and high political officials,

* the failure to implement agreements reached between government and representatives of civil society,

The WPA is forced to conclude that the present situation in Guyana is a prescription for disaster. In the opinion of the WPA democracy in this country is faced with its severest test as an emerging dictatorship begins to show its claws.

DETERIOATING CRIME AND SECURITY SITUATION

It is deeply troubling that as the crime and security situation continues to worsen throughout the society the Security Forces and the government continue to focus their attention and their guns only on Buxton and other African communities as the only places where criminal activity in Guyana flourishes. This has the propensity for a disaster of grave consequences. It cannot be denied that the manner in which government's crime fight is being waged has led to the profiling and stigmatization of African communities and of African young men in particular and a deepening hatred by residents of those communities for the government and for members of the security forces. In this situation WPA reiterates that criminal activity in Guyana is widespread and is not confined to the lower echelons of society. It is well know that it flourishes mightily in the corridors of power. Unless and until the police and the security forces begin to pursue criminals wherever they operate, including in those places which are known to be run by persons close to the ruling party, the gap between the security forces and citizens in communities will continue to widen.

It should be noted that judging by the ages of those being apprehended, abused, and charged by the Joint Services as they target the Buxton and Agricola communities, all of the suspected "criminals" have come of age under the PPP Civic Government. Pre-teen persons (aged 12 or less) on October 1992 are now 28 years and younger. These form the core of the "criminal gangs" created under the rule of the PPP Civic government. WPA Administrator Desmond Trotman has made this observation publicly on behalf of the WPA when he was interviewed on the Groundings with Walter Rodney Programme of February 29. It was since repeated, without attribution, in Parliament by opposition MPs.

WPA reproduces here a comment from the APRIL 2008 DAYCLEAN on the presentation by Minister Clement Rohee, in charge of national security, public safety, and the police force who made an astonishing utterance in the National Assembly. The occasion was the debate on security matters, Ministry of Home Affairs, in the course of the 2008 National Budget debate. Giving his Ministry's perspective on the national crime situation he stated that there were two types of criminality the security forces had to contend with. One was crime related to poverty. He gave examples such as shoplifting and praedial larceny. Presumably these criminals acted out of necessity. The second was what he called the psychotic criminals with political agendas. He said this with a straight face and we must assume he meant it. Never mind that in his own Ministry, in his own political administration, indeed in the very National Assembly he was addressing there were associates of crime bosses and organised criminal groups.

We have a situation now where only certain classes of criminals are singled out and condemned by the PPP Civic when the most corrosive criminal problem plaguing the country is organized crime: money laundering, fuel smuggling, narco trafficking, trafficking in arms, and trafficking in persons. The security forces have not dismantled, or even identified and targeted a single organised criminal enterprise. Couriers, hustlers, pushers and other street elements are picked up. But so far not a single big fish. In one way or another organized crime has spawned the creation of most of the criminal endeavours now confronting the country with deadly menace.

It is not only the coming of age of young "criminals" under the PPP Civic that is the concern. At the other end of the spectrum, the PPP Civic Government has also spawned the rise of every type of organised crime in our society. Crime bosses, or businesspersons as they are termed by the media, have now become a dominant section of the ruling elite. Their control over the economy, as measured by the size of the phantom economy is huge. Their control over force and weaponry is so great that they offer the Government and the Joint Services "assistance for fighting crime". Imagine criminals taking the lead in fighting crime, aided and abetted by the ruling political bosses. One part of the two-headed monster the PPP Civic has spawned fighting the other.

In any other democratic and civilised society this would have been the cause of consternation and horror on the part of the Government. But the PPP Civic regime's cynicism knows no limit. It blames its favourite whipping horse ? the PNC/R Opposition.

"There is the existence of a cabal or coterie of persons comprised mainly, but not exclusively, of selective crime bosses, state officials, security personnel, elements of the criminal justice system and political bosses, advisers and other insiders. The combination is unique and derives from the particular historical antecedents as well as social, economic and political circumstances in Guyana. This group as I indicated wields enormous influence over state power as well as commands considerable economic wealth. As the ruling elite this group has placed itself well above and beyond the reaches of domestic law while at the same time leading the political charge in Guyana for law, order, public safety and human security".

PROF CLIVE Y THOMAS - STABROEK NEWS

PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS IN GUYANA

In relation to the proliferation of weapons in Guyana, WPA takes this opportunity to remind citizens that in 2001 it had called for a review of the laws to deal harshly with gun runners and it was no less a person than the Head of the Office of the President and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, who had said that the time was not opportune for that review. It will be recalled that WPA's proposal was made at the instance of the Morgan case when he was caught with a container filled with guns and military uniforms. Seven years later that review is yet to take place. The country bleeds as a result. WPA also reminds citizens that it was Brother Eusi Kwayana who had privately charged a well known member of the PPP in Enmore, - Beast - with the possession of a number of sophisticated weapons. That charge was ordered dismissed by the then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Dennis Hanoman Singh and the weapons returned to the accused. The point we make here is while the government raves against the proliferation of weapons, its actions send different signals. It is in that context that the return of weapons seized from the Good Hope trio - Roger Khan and two others - and President Jagdeo's failure to exhort the Security Forces to take possession of the 300 or more weapons that Roger Khan would have used to put down any attempt at insurrection against the government in 2006 must be seen.

ARBITRARY POLYGRAPH TESTING

WPA believes that the government's move to institute polygraph or lie detector tests to some of its employees would have appeared more credible had the President and his coterie first made themselves available for these tests. We are left to speculate on why the President did not entertain and implement such a confidence building measure.

INCRIMINATING ROGER KHAN REVELATIONS

The confirmation of the allegations against Roger Khan's involvement in the execution of Guyanese citizens was first made by Crime Chief Seelall Persaud at a press conference of the Guyana Police Force some months ago. The latest revelation in a US Court of Khan's involvement in over 200 executions in Guyana reinforces the claims made by the political opposition forces and makes a mockery of the statements made by government spokespersons who on several occasions went to great lengths to show that no evidence existed to link Roger Khan to those killings.

THREAT TO THE RIGHT TO PROTEST

This right is enshrined in Guyana's Constitution. However, it is ironic to note that the PPP who enjoyed the freedom to protest under both the Colonial rulers and under the PNC, which government they often refer to as the most brutal regime in Guyana's history, is today denying Guyanese the right to march and protest in the same places they did. Today citizens are protesting in several countries around the world against the burdens their governments are placing on them. We in Guyana must not stand idly by and allow the PPPC and the security forces to infringe our rights.

ABUSE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

WPA continues to be extremely angry at the ongoing brutalization of our women folk and children in the society. The acts of violence, (physical, verbal and sexual) directed against these groups are unprecedented in recent times, are unacceptable and must be condemned. In our view everything must be done to ensure that the present trend is brought to an immediate halt.

STILL NO INQUIRY INTO RODNEY'S ASSASSINATION

The WPA reiterates its commitment to the inquiry into Rodney's assassination which took place on June 13, 1980.

In a Press Release issued on March 31, 2008 WPA stated:- "The WPA shares the astonishment of Mrs. Patricia Rodney and her children at the pronouncement by Prime Minister Hinds in the National Assembly that there was some hesitation on the part of the Rodney family about whether they wanted the inquiry to go forward. At no time have the family, friends and comrades of Dr. Rodney wavered in their demand for the impartial international inquiry called for in the parliamentary Motion. If, as the Prime Minister claims, he was advised by the Office of the President through Dr. Roger Luncheon, that some consultations between Dr. Roopnaraine and the family, according to one media report, "sparked the contention of hesitation", then he was poorly advised, if not misled.

The Prime Minister should have been advised that feelers were put out by the Office of the President in an attempt to mount the Inquiry in the run-up to the 2006 elections. At that time, the WPA and the Rodney family expressed their distaste for the Inquiry being turned into an election campaign issue, with all the ugliness that would have entailed. It certainly was not the season for the kind of Inquiry Mrs. Rodney had called for, one that would have provided a basis for healing and reconciliation.

The Prime Minister was present on the government benches when the PPP/C MPs abstained on their own motion for the Inquiry, thereby setting a new parliamentary precedent. The Prime Minister's latest pronouncements are entirely in keeping with that equivocation the PPP/C has from the beginning shown towards the Rodney Inquiry.

Simple decency demands that Mr. Hinds, in his next parliamentary outing, withdraw his unfounded pronouncements on the floor of the House".

WPA is of the view that the long overdue inquiry should be held without delay. We therefore call on the PPPC government to move with urgency to set in motion the arrangements for holding the inquiry. Our support for the process is guaranteed.

DELAY IN COMPLETING THE WALTER RODNEY MONUMENT

The Executive Committee wishes to state that there have been a number of stumbling blocks which it was and continues to be faced with in relation to the completion of this worthy project, not least of which has been the difficulties experienced with raising the required funds. However, in spite of the difficulties, the Executive Committee accepts all of the criticisms that have been and will continue to be leveled at it as a result of its failure to make the project a reality. The Executive states for the record that the party has over the years of its existence been unable to attract sufficient funds to carry out the tasks relative to its vision. It was not unusual to find that a donation was committed and withdrawn for reasons unknown. It is in that context therefore that the Executive's seeks the public's appreciation of the constraints that it was and is faced with. These constraints have impacted negatively on our ability to complete the project in a timely fashion. In the final analysis, the responsibility for its completion rests with the Executive Committee of the Party. However, notwithstanding the difficulties the Executive commits itself to a more proactive pursuit of this project in the days ahead.

WPA would like to use this opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous assistance of one of Guyana's leading engineer, Mr. Egbert (Bert) Carter, who has put a lot of his time, energy and resources into moving the project forward. We also acknowledge here and express our deep appreciation to fabricator Mr. Pooran Pitamber of Prospect, East Bank, Demerara whose services were recruited by Bert.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS TO BE WARY OF

There have been a number of Regional developments which are of concern to the WPA and should be of concern to all Guyanese. The most significant have been (1) the recent decision by the Caricom Heads of Government to establish a regional security force to combat crime in Caricom member countries; and (2) The decision at a South American Heads of Government meeting to establish a Joint South American Defense Force.

At this stage of CARICOM's development a regional security force is not to be confused with providing regional police for governments to use against their own citizens. Two consequences of these decisions concern the WPA very deeply. One is that this might become the forerunner to institutionalizing a region-wide security force to protect regional regimes facing lawful challenges from their own electorates. This could include peaceful mass protests and demonstrations to which the regime in power reacts violently. There is an uncanny and unsettling resemblance between the tactics of the PPP/C regime and those of colonial police who, as Walter Rodney tirelessly pointed out, were the chief instigators of the riots and violence throughout our colonial history.

The second concern is that the Guyana Government and our security forces have a reputation for receiving material security help with sophisticated items, which end up either in the hands of the crime bosses or are stolen from armouries of the Joint Services. In whose hands we ask will the sniper rifles end up? Only time will tell. WPA therefore warns citizens of the jeopardies that are inherent in these decisions and calls on you to be alert to this eventuality. We also call on opposition forces throughout the Caribbean to take collective action on this development.

On this twenty-eighth anniversary of Walter's murder, WPA calls on his countrymen and country women to stand firm in defence of their right to a life of safety and dignity, freed of the scourge of crime and poverty. No efforts should be spared to unite the community of sufferers, to heal our long festering divisions, and bring an end to the degradation that shames us all.