I READ with disappointment the Kaieteur News article dated Monday June 14, 2010 captioned “GRA boss accused of bullyism at Kitty Masjid.” I have been associated with the Kitty Jamaat for a very long time and as such highly familiar with the affairs of the Jamaat. I testify to the constant conflict at the Jamaat which started at the passing of Mr. Shiraz Usman-Ali in 1996 and the Presidency of Mr. Ibrahim Ali.

The Executive body, under the leadership of Mr. Ibrahim Ali, was continually pressured by a group of disgruntled youths to produce a register of members and hold general elections.

The Ibrahim Ali administration attempted to complete the register and hold the elections but their efforts proved futile for reasons that have not been communicated to the congregation.

The tension between the “Ibrahim group” and the youths led by Mohamed Zaiff Hussain escalated and on May 1, 2009 the Secretary of the Jamaat announced the resignation of Ibrahim Ali and the Treasurer Mr. Deen Kalamadeen although the resignations were never read to the Jamaat,  neither were they seen by any of the members.

The resignation of the President and Treasurer seemed to have provided added impetus for attacks on the remaining members of the Ibrahim Ali administration.

In fear of their own well-being, they abandoned their responsibilities while keeping the records and documents of the Jamaat. The youths who had viciously, verbally and otherwise attacked the members of the Ibrahim Ali executive, then called an extra ordinary meeting in order to appoint a steering committee.

At the meeting held on May 24, 2009 Mohamed Zaiff Hussain announced that he should be declared President because he has the finances to seek legal representation to retrieve the financial records and documents of the Jamaat from the members of the Ibrahim Ali administration.

Mohamed Zaiff Hussain was, therefore, appointed President by the youths with specific mandates including retrieval of the financial records and documents and preparation of a register of the members of the Jamaat with the aim of convening a general election.

Mohamed Zaiff Hussain, however, failed to fulfill the mandate of those who allegedly appointed him President and declared himself as the newly elected President.
This move on his part resulted in constant tension between those in support of Zaiff Hussain, that is the “Zaiff Hussain group”,  and those in opposition to him -the “Imaam group”.

The Jamaat became a “war zone” and disunity continued to spread. I thought that the intervention by Mr. Khurshid Sattaur was timely, relevant and necessary. 
He did not seek to elevate himself to any position but simply asked for the members to meet on May 12, 2010 for dialogue on the way forward.

It was, therefore, most surprising and disturbing when I read the article which accused the GRA boss of “bullyism.” I would like the records to reflect that such an accusation lacks merit; moreover, I would want to commend Mr. Sattaur for taking the initiative of suggesting that the members meet and deliberate on the way forward.

Someone should have done that a long time now in the interest of peace at the Jamaat and in promoting unity and brotherly love.