I have seen an article headed “Minister Rohee and the Beckett Syndrome” by Henry Jeffrey – Stabroek News, August 1, 2012. I wish to make some comments, but first let me rehash that there is a call for a public inquiry into the shooting deaths of three persons by the Linden bridge where people were protesting against the proposed new rates for the consumption of electricity by residents in the area.
The fact that there is a universal call for an inquiry admits that the facts are not clearly known and it is hoped everything will come out in the wash during the inquiry.
Let us forget the grandstanding of opposition Members of Parliament when they introduced a motion seeking no confidence in the Minister of Home Affairs. What is regrettable is that despite the call for persons of ostensible respect others continue to misrepresent ‘facts’ which only the Commission of Inquiry can certify.
So when Henry Jeffrey prefaced his thoughts by writing “the police action at Linden …killed three innocent protestors”, he is stating as a fact something that the independent inquiry will have to ascertain. We have heard the police version as to why shots were discharged. If there is no evidence that the persons shot were ‘innocent protestors’ what is the belief of Jeffrey  that there is a very important, more or less, overlooked dimension to the entire tragedy. He then concludes with a carte blanche statement that any incident which is responsible for creating the environment that allows some of its underlings to believe their actions to be acceptable, the entire regime is culpable.
I understand that Jeffrey is urging that if a government employee makes a mistake or commits an error in the discharge of his functions the entire government should resign.
What a shame this concept was not promulgated when Jeffrey did not get what he wanted when he was slated to be appointed Ambassador to Suriname. A grievous crime was then committed against Jeffrey and the Jagdeo government should have forthwith resigned.