A lot has been said and published by the media about the police brutality against civilians in Marudi.  A lot of emotion has been spewed, wrongfully, and to the wrong persons in my opinion.
I am amazed that before an investigation is done properly, blame is cast on the police and in particular the corporal, who took action to clear the carriageway.  I have noted with much interest the wise letter written by Harold Hopkinson in today’s Chronicle of 11th March 2012.

  He obviously is a wise man.
People have a tendency to get emotional in such issues and seem to think that the police are always wrong.  Then there are those in public office fearing the hands of politicians and opposition elements would make derogatory and accusing remarks about police action, when they have not been privy to all issues.

I say illegality in no form should be allowed or encouraged, and this goes as well for the noise makers at the perpetual fetes on the sea wall opposite Bel Air Gardens, Bel Air Springs and Campbellville near the Russian embassy.

On the Marudi issue, can the Commissioner of Police, and the GGMC officials, and wise people not see that this was a staged event?  That the woman was holding a child, actually the child was being pressed under her arm to stay in position, and it is obvious that the child did not wish to be there.  As a matter of fact, pressure need to be mounted on the woman, child and father, for them to expose who paid or encouraged them to  endanger their lives, and in particular the life of a minor.  This was a staged exhibition to arouse the exact sentiments it has, and the Kaieteur News in particular, and even Demerara Waves did not investigate properly before reporting.  At a minimum, the woman should be charged for endangering a minor.  Which good mother or father would allow his or her child to sit there? Unless there was a motive to evoke emotions, in which they were most successful.

Around them were dozens if not hundreds of illegal miners prodding them on, and they should be charged as well as accessories.  We must remember that the GGMC dispatched officers to the area to issue warnings, and the officers were not respected, some were even threatened; they left amidst enormous fear for their lives, as the area has armed and dangerous Brazilian desperadoes called Garampeiros (if my spelling is right).  These Brazilians are known for their cruelties on aboriginal peoples in Brazil for mining areas and logging, and their unsavoury destruction of the environment, even killings of aborigines/Amerindians.  There are areas in Brazil that the police cannot enter. It is known that in Brazil, the government  does not encourage lawlessness and they even prosecute people for atrocities, and hence, I am concerned that the Brazilian Ambassador is looking at this issue with a different perspective. They should ensure that their citizens in our country do not get involved in illegalities, and here now in criminality.

In Guyana, we cannot allow illegal Brazilian and Guyanese miners to annex a portion of Guyana, out of which the worst of lawlessness and criminality could result, and to terrorise our minds, comparing what could result as the situation in parts of Mexico.  Government of Guyana, can we allow illegals to annex Guyanese territory into no man’s land?  Can we allow foreigners, many illegal in our country and destroying our environment, to annex Guyanese lands?

Now, to the police corporeal in question.  This man should be recognised for doing excellent work along with his colleagues.  The corporal did not use his gun butt to hit or hurt anyone, nor did his colleagues use their machine guns to hit or shoot anyone.  They were being taunted, and the illegal miners refused an order to move.  The lady and the forced child, refused a lawful order issued by the police; should the police have allowed a lawful order to go unheeded?  Should we allow our people and country to degenerate into criminal enclaves and people without respect for the word or order of the police?  This is called anarchy.  Anytime a police issue an instruction to me, I obey, such is the power conferred to them by the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana.  The law allows the police to use a baton to uphold law, but he instead, used a whip to create fear, and of course, they went and got plastered as if their bones were broken, all part of the exhibition to create strife and disrespect.  The police were not being unreasonable; what was he to do?  Sit on the ground in disgust with his hand on chin, propping sorrow, or merely giving up?  Senior Police officers must stand up for their ranks.

Instead of terrorising the police, they must be complimented and recognised, or we will find no one wanting to enforce the law.  They will fear persecution by the Police Service they represent, and from officials of the country they serve.

DEALING WITH ILLEGAL MINERS:  Any locals involved in illegal mining should be fined G$1m.  Foreign illegal miners should have their equipment seized and fined US1M minimum, for stealing our natural resources and also destroying our environment.  Or we must quickly establish such laws, and create an environment court and environmental laws, with huge fines.  Those with legal equipment in illegal lands should have their equipment seized!  The government has to make the enforcement and costs of GGMC recoverable by seizures and fines.  Foreigners of all kinds can invest and mine in Guyana, but within our laws and with respect for our citizens and our environment.

Sincerely,
Roshan Khan