The recent tragic death of an eleven year child should never result in the closing of schools, diverting international flights to Trinidad, closure of businesses, storming of the Georgetown Public Hospital, looting of businesses and other disruption of life in Guyana. Instead of a country enveloped in grief over this needless death, the reverse befell the nation: looting, burning properties and vehicles, burning tires on busy roadways became widespread. Obviously, no threshold of tolerance and legality has been established.
Such offshoot has clearly revealed the fault lines in a fragile democracy; the barbarians took charge instead of the police with Indian businesses (as usual) the primary target. And it begs the question: Why no securing of this crime scene and a calling out of other armed personnel like the army and Tactical Services Unit as rioting was about to take off ? Even before Independence, looting of Indian businesses was foremost on the agenda of a particular group , and later on it was the dreaded kick-down-door with Indians, almost always, invariably on the receiving end. Three decades after Independence the beasts of barbarism are still alive and allowed to exit their wormholes to create havoc.
Added to this, were frequent postings on social media disseminating a wide spectrum of opinions ranging from ritual murder, homicide to careless drowning , some coming from perceived intelligent persons. Polish philosopher Karol Libelt (1807-75) explains this phenomenon quite clearly: not all intellectuals are progressive. Imagine non-medical persons disputing the findings of three pathologist that the cause of death was drowning! “The power of the intelligentsia is demonstrated not only by their ability to create a general climate of opinion that strikes fear into those who oppose their agenda but also by their ability to create a climate of opinion which richly rewards those political leaders whose decisions are consonant with the vision of the intelligentsia.” states Harvard professor Thomas Sowell.
Incidentally, President Ali should not be the person reading a post-mortem report, more so, the lack of communication by the Police Commissioner or similar authority, having issued no statements on the matter, lead to speculation and this state of affairs, fuelled by certain elements as Vice President Jagdeo indicated, precipitated disruption and chaos throughout the land. It is needless to state that this tragedy has been blown out of proportions with prophylactic sentiments from all who share in the grief. Even Globespan has aired two programs – and another slated for Monday – discussing this and one is left to wonder if this child would morph into martyrdom.
Leyland Chitlall Roopnaraine
