GUYANA has had its fair share of criminals walking free from any prosecutorial or punitive measures brought against them. It is not a matter of the law not being there to deal with them, but is due to the fact that those administering our justice system have become so corrupt that certain criminals are privileged to flout it. I make mention of Attorney-at-Law Gordon Gilhuys, who is again in the news through being embroiled in another shooting incident.

We vividly remember that first story in which Gilhuys shot and wounded a police officer who allegedly caught him in a compromising position with another man. According to reports, the embarrassment of the moment caused him to open fire on the investigating officer, critically maiming him.

Now Gilhuys’ version of the events was that he felt he was about to be robbed by armed bandits therefore he instinctively responded in opening fire at the “perpetrator.” Quite a novel answer from this man, but close scrutiny of his tale reveals contradictions. Gilhuys cannot convince anyone that he did not recognize those officers, being an ex-policeman himself, but let us give him the benefit of the doubt that he felt “threatened” by armed men in a crime spree while he was engaged in his private pursuits.
Let us, however, fast track to the present where we have the said individual using lethal force on another person in a simple misunderstanding. My question is: why should Gilhuys be allowed to own, far less use a firearm? How many more ‘accidents’ must he perpetrate before justice is done? I see dozens of letters in the press from businessmen and private home owners literally begging the authorities for a licence to own a firearm to defend themselves at a time when criminals are on a rampage but are summarily denied, while characters of the likes of Gilhuys roam free. It is high time those responsible correct this glaring example of corruption.