Dear Editor,
The Dharamlall’s trauma will remain a news saga for a while so that, many can milk this sweet and sour drama for its sugar and salt. From the onset, this writer makes it crystalline clear that, like all law-abiding citizens, I fully endorse upholders of the legal framework and its process. I also echo and quote the sentiments of Dr. Tara Singh, “I condemn sexual assaults, including rapes, domestic violence, murders, or any felony.”
Society comprises “the good, the bad, and the ugly” and some of these elements will choose to shoot first and then ask questions. As such, the lynching mob will “hang ‘em high” and forgo the “innocent until proven guilty” attitude. Many in the high society cower in disdain knowing that, they are guilty of taking advantage of this sex syndrome, especially in the wining and dining before hiring. As was witnessed, the age-old rape problem existed from slavery to indentureship, from independence to republic, and from dictatorship to “selector-ship.” Taking advantage of youthful females of all ethnicities will not stop overnight. Men and women encourage this behavior for various reasons, including business and pleasure. Just check the many bars operating openly and behind closed doors and you can find underage girls (Venezuelans?) playing the oldest profession. This is an open secret!
Is Dharamlall’s story blown out of proportion, taken out of context, or being used and abused? Was the exposure perfectly timed in order to satisfy a certain agenda? Are there parties reaping financial gains? There are certainly more questions than answers. The psychological and sociological pundits have bisected and dissected the issue in the news and have all professionalized their opinions and views with criticisms under the scalpel and microscope of a pathologist performing a post-mortem. The Opposition is having a field day, weaponizing the very core of the matter and sparing no stone unturned in order to gain maximum political mileage. Few remain sensitive to the feelings of the alleged victim in retrospect of unwarranted, unmerited, and unnecessary publicity. Her character has been defiled in the most provocative manner and there is nothing private that is not publicly known. Now that the victim has said she no longer wants to pursue the matter, the damage has been done. Hindsight superseded foresight and those so anxious to reveal this exposition have found that they have done so at the cost of the alleged victim’s expense. She and her family are certainly not a happy camper.
Unfortunately, it will take quite some time before this matter is finally laid to rest and put to bed. Perhaps, it will resurface conveniently to haunt society again. This is not the first time Guyana has experienced this time of explosion. We are troublingly reminded of the Corbin affair; a former PNC’s speaker issue; and, the case of the Opposition MP abusing her husband! The brave (brazen?) defenders of morality who took to the streets have dodged this bullet. Is this a cloak-and-dagger issue? What yardstick is being used to measure “honesty, dignity, and integrity?” These golden “stone throwers” have declared their values in the highest of carats weighed in tons, not troy ounces!
How many of the usual suspects comprising of the upper class, middle class, lower class, struggling class, the Mulato/Creole Middle Class, the privileged class, Ethnic Relations Committee, GHRA, In The Diaspora, Transparency Institute of Guyana (TIGI), Civil Society, The Bar Association, The Private Media, GPA, the Opposition MP’s, etc., would accept and acknowledge the attempted rigging of the 2020 Guyana General Election by the PNC? The entire world did in order to defend democracy in Guyana because the national, regional, and international communities were present as observers and they possess high moral values!
How many would dare to articulate the Guyana National Service debauchery for its worst nightmares? Those elders hiding behind the keyboard can expostulate in detail about the planned production of the sixth race lab! Mahadai Das’s name cannot be submerged. Will there ever be a national inquiry about the hundreds of rape cases that the Burnham era allowed to take place constantly? The PNC preachers wish that this stigma will dissipate so that they can relieve their guilty conscience. Civil Society lacks the decorum to mention this bit of daunting history in reflection! All hail the placard holders!
Here is an interesting piece that was penned in 2019 by a popular newspaper from a leading writer, “The so-called “Troubles” had its roots in political instability which again was caused by the failure of the PNCR to accept its defeat in the 2001 elections. Guyana went through its worst period of violence because this time it saw criminals – so-called “freedom” fighters” who liked to rape women- being used for political purposes.” Which color of thread wants to knit a link to the current issue? The silence of the lamb prevails.
When so many Indian females were stripped naked, molested, and embarrassed in the streets by criminals, hooligans, and organized gangsters by known elements belonging to a party in denial during the late 90s and 2000s in dissent of the PPP/C election victories, where were the so-called NGO’s to voice their protests? It was in broad daylight in the public domain that this monstrous atrocity occurred and the virtuous ones remain deaf, dumb, and blind to this devious crime! The inconvenience of truth becomes uncomfortable? Perhaps, there are different shades and shapes of morality for judgment!
Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall