Pirate murders highlight plight of victims’ families

Dear Editor,
THE recent pirate attack against our Guyanese in Suriname sent shock waves throughout our country and we are still trying to come to terms with its implications for our citizens’ peace and security.

Ordinary fisherfolk with families to provide for were brutally murdered at sea by a sadistic band of pirates, reportedly on a revenge mission for their ringleader. No other than His Excellency President David Arthur Granger described the attack as a great tragedy. It is now time for us to heed the lessons of this great tragedy and try to soothe the pain and sorrow, especially among the victims’ families.

The alleged ringleader was arrested, as were other suspects. I must point out that these arrests clearly belied the false belief by some Indo-Guyanese that those from their race are not cruel people and that Afro-Guyanese are the main perpetrators of violent crimes. I have seen their comments on the internet and heard them with my own ears, blaming Afro-Guyanese for all the violent crime in society. I hope this puts that matter to rest once and for all. Crime is not about race. Often, it is about getting money without working and doing what it takes to get it.

What sort of people could look at other helpless human beings and attack them so viciously and cold-bloodedly? Imagine the scenario: a band of pirates armed with guns and cutlasses hop aboard fishing vessels with defenceless men and proceed to beat them, chop them like fish and throw them overboard. In their zeal to ensure that the men drowned, they even tied batteries to their legs. Their hearts were hard, even as the victims– no match for this gang– begged for their lives or struggled against the waters into which they were hurled. It would be hard to do this to an animal, much less a human being.

The victims were husbands, sons, brothers, uncles and friends, struggling in rough conditions to earn a dollar at a job not many people want to do. What could they have done to deserve such horrible deaths? The media has reported that the attacks were in revenge for the drive-by shooting of one pirate’s brother. However, it is not clear if those attacked were implicated in that incident. From what has been reported so far, these were premeditated, cold-blooded murders.

The entire incident begs the question: what could have spawned this level of cruelty? Were they brutalised as children? Did they grow up seeing this level of brutality meted out by adults against others? What will their children grow up to be like? It’s mind boggling. Persons do not become capable of such savagery overnight.

This could not have been the first time these criminals had executed such brutality and force against other human beings. One of the suspects’ Facebook posts showed photos of him with guns, drugs and money, photos of which were exposed in the media, even a photo of him sleeping with a gun at his side. I think about the families of the murdered men. Some might have had young children. What are they going to do now to survive? Our country does not have a strong welfare system to deal with situations such as these.

I remember writing to the late President Hugh Desmond Hoyte, as well as his successor late President Cheddi Jagan, suggesting that a fund be set up for situations such as these. My idea is to put state funds aside for emergency access by poor families that lose breadwinners suddenly. I suggested it because there are far-reaching consequences when the breadwinner of a family dies suddenly.

The consequences on the family can be dire and the effects can filter down to their villages, communities and even the country as a whole.
The sons of such persons can turn to lives of crime; daughters and wives can engage in immoral acts and lives of crime as well, to get money. When I originally made this suggestion, it was for the families of accident victims who were killed or injured.

I suggested then that the money can be garnered by introducing a supplementary fee for the registration of vehicles. In terms of monetary fees, I suggest $500 or $1000. This money can be put towards a welfare fund for families of victims of crime and accidents. The government can start the fund with some seed money from a grant taken from our tax dollars. I give them permission to use my tax dollars for this purpose.

People in certain occupations such as cane-cutting, fishing, taxi driving and so on, can also be encouraged to take out life insurance policies, showing them how a policy can benefit their families in the event of their demise. They should also be urged to pay their NIS contributions as their families can benefit if they die.

As the situation stands, people are murdered and their families benefit from only a pittance from the Ministry of Social Protection. I don’t mean to knock what the ministry is offering; it is preferable to them getting nothing.
However, I believe we can do better, so that our people can have the good life, for which President Granger’s government is striving.

Regards
Roshan Khan Snr

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