Mr. Justin DeFreitas is life in the thunder dome a place for your children?

On September 3rd I wrote as a concerned returned Guyanese, about the brutalisation of a man at Splashmin by what could only be described as hoodlums, punks and thugs, on a rampage. My main concern was the complete lack of security and police protection of the lawful.

Mr. DeFreitas stated in his past response to my letter that this country has a penchant for stupid violence and unthinking brutality; continuing Mr. DeFreitas states why bother? These are everyday occurrences and no big deal.

Well Mr. DeFreitas I must ask if you are part of the problem or part of a cure? Would it make a difference if you were the one brutalised or even killed? This is a country of laws as far as I understand. Where is the enforcement? I have had a prominent minister of the government tell me the issue of people being hurt, brutalised and possibly murdered by believers in the superstition of ‘old higue’, jumbies and bacoos is a third world issue. My concern is if these places are civilised? Does being a third world nation make this crime okay? Is there existing law and order?

Mormons are being asked to leave Guyana for what’s claimed to be immigration purposes, but you allow the crime of alleged witchcraft brutality and murder to exist on one’s own people under the name of bacoos, jumbies, old higue etc.

I see lack of concern by responsible persons in responsible places like the police and the medical health departments which adds up to lack of justice for the poor and indigent. What gives Davis Memorial Hospital ambulance the right to reject medical attention to a sick person simply because they were told he’s possessed by bacoos? Where are the religious voices to this crime? Where are the psychologist and psychiatrists? Where are the voices of the lawmakers and politicians? How would Guyana religious pastors like to be called possessed by spirits, lynched, beaten and killed or possibly burnt at the stake like history showed? Whatever happened to the rights of all people, rich and poor? Education is what is needed, start in the primary schools.

I sincerely hope that President Jagdeo and the Minister of Health along with Home Affairs Minister and others read this.
P. RAWLINS