Indentureship Indian Heritage Month May 05

Will the PNC ask for an inquiry into the brutality and killings in 2002-03?
Mr. Robert Corbin has spoken about allegations made against himself, Mr. Stanley Moore and Mr. Rashleigh Jackson when they were all members of the Burnham Cabinet, and that they resigned when allegations were made against them.

The matters having been brought to the public arena by Mr. Corbin in his quest to get the removal of Ronald Gajraj from office, it is only fair that the public be made aware of what Mr. Corbin had alluded to.

The allegation was made against Robert Corbin that he raped a young woman in his office one Saturday afternoon. Can Mr. Corbin confirm or deny that the medical evidence showed that the girl was bruised, scratched and suffered other injuries consistent with an attack as if by an animal?

Mr. Stanley Moore was Minister of Home Affairs and he ordered the release of hardcore criminals from the Georgetown Prison. Mr. Skip Roberts, the Crime Chief, protested to Mr. Burnham. Mr. Burnham suggested to Roberts that he tender his resignation. (This was part of Burnham's strategy). Mr. Burnham called in Stanley Moore and showed him Skip Robert's letter of resignation. He asked Moore to find a Crime Chief as competent as Roberts. Stanley Moore resigned and Skip Robert's letter of resignation was destroyed.

Rashleigh Jackson's son was allegedly found in possession of unlawful objects in the U.S.A, and a letter was issued claiming that the son was in the diplomatic service, which was not true. As a result of the letter, the son was not charged. Mr. Jackson resigned.

Is there any similarity to the matter now engaging in public attention at the request of Mr. Corbin?

But dealing with the call for the resignation of Mr. Gajraj, we have seen two statements issued by bedfellows of the PNC. The Guyana Bar Association noted that it was a serious breach of the law to condemn a high government official without verification and scrutiny of the allegations made against him; and the Guyana Human Rights Association in a lukewarm statement said it was unfortunate that the PNC/R chose to focus predominantly on the Minister rather than mobilizing around the issue.

Bearing in mind that Bacchus has refused to attend an identification parade or give a statement in writing to the Guyana authorities, will the PNC/R show its maturity and lend support for a proper enquiry, including all the killings and brutality experienced in Guyana in 2002-2003 for which no one has been arrested?
AHMAD ALLI

THANKS TO THE PHANTOM FORCE
The law abiding citizens who wish to live in peace in Guyana wish to express their thanks to the phantom and all those responsible for its formation. Thanks to them for the crime free holidays and safe passage through Buxton and Agricola that have resulted from the intervention of the phantom force or phantom squad.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the main opposition party, among others, for being unable to create an unstable environment and instill fear among the citizens. This has resulted in more investment and other positives.

It is a good time to remind the Guyanese public and the opposition that Mr. George Bacchus was convicted for murder. An investigation should be launched regarding his acquittal, which, incidentally, was not a judge or jury decision. In the interim I suggest that Mr. George Bacchus remain in police custody until the investigation is completed. This may be the safest place for him at this time - in addition to a happy reunion with old friends.
Thankful Sophia Resident

The call for Mr. Gajraj's resignation is puerile and vindictive
May I add my two bits worth to the current discussion about the alleged statements made by Mr. George Bacchus and the calls for Mr. Ronald Gajraj to resign his position as Minister of Home Affairs?

There appears to have been no official or formal report made to the police, the competent authority, by Bacchus. All we are hearing are second-hand reports. I do not think that in such a case the police can properly act where they don't have a report in writing from someone.

The call for Mr. Gajraj's resignation is puerile and vindictive. The PNC has reported it will not participate in any official forum at which Gajraj is present. The puerility and meanness of the PNC manifest themselves when it is demanding that Gajraj should not be allowed to leave the jurisdiction of Guyana. It suggests, therefore, that should Gajraj resign and circumstances such as ill health or other personal matters impel him to leave the jurisdiction, the PNC will take to the streets. The consequences of the PNC taking to the streets need not be spelt out.

But let us look at some other aspects, two of which cause me grave concern. First, Bacchus's allegations: He went all around making serious allegations but has not made written statements to the police, and has refused to attend an identification parade or confrontation to point out the persons against whom he has made serious allegations.

At first his excuse was his lawyer was out of the country and later on he exclaimed, "Jesus Christ, I know the people for over twenty years!" Yet, no confrontation!

In his statements he boasted how he spent his own funds to find out about the criminals' whereabouts, that a submachine gun was used to shoot the men through the window of the vehicles in which they were traveling, and then later he said he had no details of the actual killings of the squad. Having done all he did, speaking with the PNC, Channel 9 and the U.S. Embassy, he is now upset at the furor raised by political parties and other groups over his disclosures, and he believes they are only using his statements for political mileage and he wants them to stop.

Has he now realized he was set up by political and other groups?

The PNC is calling for an inquiry concerning the phantom group. But no call was made for an inquiry into the Buxton phantom group - the criminal bunch that robbed, vandalized and murdered Indians in Buxton, where the army was stationed and no one saw who committed these offences. Was there not a phantom group?

What agenda do the press and the television stations have when they claim that a polygraph test was done, which in fact is now shown to be false? Channel 6 news broadcast it and Stabroek News made it front page headline news. Channel 6 has not retracted the statements. We don't know what Stabroek News will do. Stabroek News also highlighted that Bacchus had confrontations with the alleged killers, but Bacchus himself denied that he attended any confrontation!

Is it a case where Bacchus was set up and when his story was appearing to be suspect the press then resorted to sensationalism and began to publish false stories?

Can the Guyana Press Association come forward and set matters right doing what they have to do, or are the officials sympathetic to these sensational stories when the words of a self-confessed criminal are held as gospel?

The press gave full-page response to Freedie Kissoon's commentary of the happenings at UG. I hope these two or three columns will see the light of day.
ALMIN BAKSH