Dear Editor,
I COULD not agree more with Earl Hamilton in his letter published in your April 28 edition captioned, “On the wrong side of truth and righteousness.” He has nailed Juan Edghill, supposedly bishop and Christian adherent.

I have followed this now full-fledged politician’s descent into politics as part of a political party that has been guilty of the most serious crimes committed against the people of this nation. But I do not wish to dwell on such, except to say that I hope God is answering his intercession for those who are sure to be prosecuted for making the treasury their personal financial accounts.

Further, I do agree with Hamilton, that Jesus Christ did not cast his vote for the PPP/C at the last poll. It explains why their many senior members, inclusive of former state officials, have had to face criminal inquiries, culminating in charges. Of course, Jesus Christ does not look kindly on “national thieves”, and pillagers of the treasury”, as Hamilton stated.

As one who has taken the vows of the priesthood — in this case a bishop — there is the moral expectation of an example that reflects such spiritual ascendancy. One is expected to exhibit a higher standard of conduct than others. It becomes a case of living and leading by example, and defending righteousness.

Against this expectation, one must ask, how can this spiritual leader — if he still is — become a member, and now high potentate, of a party that apart from its well documented criminal acts against the state, is unashamedly racist, prosecuting its well- known programme of marginalisation against the Africans of this country?

What was very interesting was that while Edghill, as Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission had been prancing up and down the coastland preaching tolerance among the races, the former PPP/C government continued its racist programme. Surely, he would have been aware of the numerous acts of naked discrimination against African Guyanese — inclusive of their communities — that were denied basic amenities such as proper roads and water, coupled with extra judicial executions of hundreds of Afro-Guyanese young men and its policy of economic genocide, which was aptly put in the public sphere by one of Guyana’s leading trade unionists.

His inaction in the face of Rusal terminating the employment of so many Afro Guyanese, despite the latter workers’ reports of discrimination in such an action, illustrated a disturbingly lack of concern for their human rights, more so as a representative of God.
I am not regular church-goer, but it is my understanding that any person who chose to become a representative of God, is expected, apart from giving spiritual guidance to his congregation, to speak out against all forms of injustice and wrongdoing – probably waiting for a sign.

I hope that he remembered to reprimand his colleague MPs for their lying shouts of rape, during their disrespectful conduct in the National Assembly; and the scurrilous falsehood of receiving a deliberate physical blow to the body, as alleged by an MP, with a piece of wood, administered by a member of the security force — the latter which had been immediately disproven.

But this might have been too much to expect from Edghill, given the fact that he flagrantly disobeyed the Speaker’s instruction, which became a signal for the most shocking display of opposition conduct in the history of national parliamentary proceedings.

Such scandalous behaviour could not have been one necessitated by seeking one’s rights. It was a clear case of Edghill infringing the House’s procedures. One wonders how he could have sworn to uphold the very laws which he decidedly broke. His conduct as a politician has been a vile desecration of his spiritual vocation.

Regards,
Troy Garraway