Dear Editor,
SOME media houses in Guyana continue to propagate the WHO suicide ‘stat’ of 2012, which placed Guyana at Number One in the world with a rate of 44.2, in spite of the fact that that figure is incorrect. TCV’s investigation had revealed the actual rate was 32.15. So we challenge the media to investigate and either confirm or disprove our findings. Sources would include Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and WHO.

Secondly, while we do agree that the suicide rate has decreased, we disagree with any attempts by the government to claim total credit. Significant credit must go to entities that receive no funding or support from the government (The Caribbean Voice; Guyana Foundation; the Counseling Centre at Corriverton; Golden Om Dharmic Youth and others)) but that do the largest amount of counseling, including grief counseling in Guyana as well as more outreach, sensitization, training and ‘info’ dissemination than government and its associates.

Thirdly, recently British High Commissioner Greg Quinn called for the decriminalization of attempted suicide. It is well known that a Bill to this effect was placed in parliament some years ago. Supported in debate by both government and opposition, it was voted against by the government because they did not want the opposition to be given credit. A suggestion by TCV for a bipartisan committee to prepare and take another Bill to parliament went nowhere.
Regards,
The Caribbean Voice