I wish to express deep sadness at the untimely death of Shaquille Grant of Agricola. The report is that this young man died in a shoot out with the police. It is sad to see that young life wasted.
However, we cannot divorce these

incidents from the actions of the political opposition parties. Those parties have close relations with criminal gangs and give them support because they feel that it brings them political gains.

Recall, that during the height of the criminal activities the PNCR gave a lot of support to the groups. The leaders of that party were the only ones that could have gone into the besieged village of Buxton, which the criminals had taken over. Many were reported to have been rubbing shoulders with the bandits.

Whenever any member(s)of the gangs got killed during confrontations with the police the PNCR in many cases organised their wake and funeral. PNC equipment (PA systems etc) were used at their funerals. In one case the flag of Guyana was desecrated when they draped the coffin of the infamous “Blackie” London with it.

I thought that with Granger those days had passed, but it is not so. It continues.

In the recent wanton lawlessness at Linden, where criminals extorted millions from miners and other law abiding citizens, the PNCR’s silence was deafening and seen as tacit support for the illegal acts.

More recently, Mr. Granger and other leaders of that party unveiled a monument in Buxton in memory of those that died in confrontation with the police. These included Dale Moore, Linden “Blackie” London, Andrew Douglas, Shawn Browne, “Fine Man” Rawlins and others.

The opposition AFC and PNCR never saw it fit to express sympathy and solidarity with the police when officers of the force were savagely murdered by the criminals. In one case they even called on their supporters to wear red to celebrate the assassination of the outstanding crime fighter Leon Fraser.

PNCR, APNU, WPA, AFC must find other role models for youths to aspire to.