Dear Editor
WE do have a problem in Guyana; a very serious problem, which has its genesis, growth and development in the more than two decades of People’s Progressive Party/ Civic governance that has spawned all of the venalities that have led to a definite distortion of social morals, where the line between right and wrong was gradually obliterated.
This is because of the unchecked deluge of illegalities, drug smuggling, fuel smuggling, phantom squads etcetera, brazenly committed in all forms by an infernal cabal that had taken advantage of its high political placement, and related connections, to redefine the right to be not only held accountable by the law, but also deny the right to sanction them.
Editor, it is no strange coincidence that Irfaan Ally, the subject of this letter, is now asking the High Court to quash proceedings against him as they pertain to 19 charges recently called in the Magistrates’ Court. In other words, there now exists in society an understanding on the part of some sections, who because of their specific political affiliation, and ethnicity, believe that no questions should be asked of their leaders, perhaps favourite ones, or enquiries or investigations into matters that concern their integrity.

Editor, this is a position that had before been contended in these pages and is now again. Therefore, this response, is based on a blogger Alesha Persaud, whose blog comments on the erudite Dr. Mark Devonish’s letter: “Allegations about Irfaan’s qualifications’’, in the Guyana Chronicle January 13, underlines another abysmal revelation of this dishonest trend that can only serve to send conflicting signals to our younger citizens.

I was taken aback by what can only be described as a crude attack on the goodly doctor, because he gave more than an excellent analysis that exposed the gaping holes in Ally’s claims to his academic certification. It would seem that political leaders of a certain party are above the law, and must not be questioned even when there are credible reasons for doing so.

Of course, there is a very compelling case for this would-be PPP/C presidential candidate to answer, regarding his certification. What Persaud and some fellow bloggers need to be reminded of is that it is common for any such aspirant to be investigated, especially by the media. In other words, public figures are fair game for the press probing pen, particularly pertaining to matters of personal integrity. And that should be without prejudice to ethnicity or class. But it would seem that Singh, and a few of the other bloggers, seem to think otherwise.

Why not engage Devonish on the facts of what are analytically reasonable and rational arguments that he has presented? But for Singh to ask him, “Can you provide us a copy of your CV”, and Raj Beekie to state, “Mark may be a very educated and reputable but he is not a doctor, he is threatening the integrity of the education system…this is fraud…worse than Jagdeo using his honorary doctor title. No doubt that Dr Nat Khublall, responded: “’Please don’t write rubbish without being conversant with the usual practice”. This gentleman, obviously an academic of high professional standards, must be commended for being fair. He has the courage to transcend the narrow and insular track of ethnic parochialism that is obviously responsible for both the comments of Beekie and Persaud.
They have exuded a plain, undisguised attempt to belittle Devonish’s person and make short shrift of his academic achievements. Not satisfied with such an ugly crudity, Persaud then proceeds to be disparaging and disrespectful to the persons of two current ministers of government, alluding to ‘‘drunkard’’ and the other not being able to distinguish the differences between two Indian cultural festivals. But she seems to have forgotten that a former PPP/C foreign minister was reported not to have known the differences between the Commonwealth of Dominica, and the Dominican Republic, and that this was at international fora.

And further frantically seeking reasons to belittle members of the government; she refers to the “patwa” language used in the National Assembly, even saying that the Prime Minister and President “falls under the same umbrella”.

This is a reflection of a Guyanese whose socio-cultural views are wholly underpinned by the poisonous stench of race, emitting a tragic ignorance of the use of Guyanese culture, custom and practice of which we are all its practitioners, especially pertaining to language, speech and pattern. And in alluding to such, I must ask Persaud: what is wrong with patois – the correct spelling, I hope she takes note –being used, in the National Assembly. It is a speech pattern that can be used to express in very connective fashion what one wishes to emphasise for clearer understanding to the masses. I have no doubt that it is part of the lexicon in other National Assemblies in the CARICOM constellation. Why should we, as Guyanese, deny who we are?

Clearly, Ally’s academic credentials are now in grave doubt, but not Devonish’s who gained his first medical degree at the University of Guyana, same as one of the Presidential hopefuls of the PPP/C, Dr. Vindya Persaud who has since then been professionally entitled to be Dr– same as Devonish.

Further, Devonish moved to England where he has since very much solidified his medical academic expertise through the acquisition of bona fide post-graduate and specialist medical qualifications. He is among the crème de la crème of medical practitioners, as can be discerned by his current professional practice and employment status. Academic certificates are not bought in England or fraudulently acquired, or otherwise had because of political friendships, etcetera. THEY HAVE TO BE EARNED! As a matter of fact, each certificate, diploma, degree tendered by anyone at any university as a basis for admission, is VERIFIED.

Those ministers referred to what they have achieved both academically and professionally, can be proven, with one of them building a very reputable legal practice and the other acquiring a doctorate not long ago, and this includes the prime minister, who has had a very successful law firm and practice before ascending to his current high office. And the President, a historian and scholar, valedictorian of the University of Guyana whose numerous academic achievements place him in a very distinguished class, with publications to support such a pedigree.

What do the likes of Beekie and Persaud bring to the national table on a matter that concerns a prominent member of their political party? The now well- known pattern of continuing, sickening deliberate defence of dishonest practices that have been a shameful hallmark of their former administration’s period of governance. This is in addition to the undemocratic practice of attacking persons who dare to criticize, or offer commentary on their party and personalities. Who will forget the fate of Ronald Waddell, and Courtney Crum Ewing, cold bloodedly murdered because of their vocal criticisms of the PPP/C governance. But Dr Mark Devonish is a young lion who has much to say, and is saying. His roars are being heard!

Regards
Earl Hamilton