–  calls on ERC to investigate Harmon’s statement

PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali has condemned another barbaric act which snuffed the life out of 17-year- old Haresh Singh, while calling on the Ethnic Relations Committee (ERC) to investigate the statement made by Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon.
Singh was killed Wednesday morning at Number Three Village, West Coast Berbice, while he was on his way to his farm, police said. His motorcycle was also discovered burnt.

The President, on Wednesday, said recent statements by Harmon during a visit to the grieving Henry families were inciteful and filled with hate.
“This is not the type of leadership our country needs at this time when we are trying to heal and bring communities together,” the head of state noted.
As President, he said it is painful to address fellow Guyanese on the brutal murders of the three young men. Subsequent to the President’s statement, Prittipaul Hargobin, 34, known as “Roy”, a resident of Block BI Bath Settlement, was also beaten to death by angry protesters.

“The murders and barbaric individuals, not worth to be classified as humans, must be brought to justice in all three instances and will be brought to justice. And those who are causing chaos and havoc on the streets, criminals disguising in protest, robbing people, beating people, burning property, you are acting unlawfully and the police has assured me, the Joint Services have assured me that they are not going to tolerate this type of behaviour,” the Commander-in-Chief said.
Noting that it is in the interest of all Guyanese that the criminals are brought to justice swiftly, President Ali said he had the unfortunate task of speaking to the grandmother and brother-in-law of Haresh Singh.

“Just as I spoke to the parents of Isaiah and Joel, and the pain is immense, the pain, and the grief, is immense,” Dr. Ali said.
“The criminals who are robbing people, the criminals who are beating people, the criminals who are chopping people, need to be brought to justice also. There is no other way to describe this. It is criminality; it has nothing to do with standing up for justice.”
The President said he spoke to many families who were beaten, robbed, traumatised, had their property destroyed.

RICE FIELD BURNT

On Wednesday, farmers’ rice fields were burnt.
The Head of State said no leader can condone this type of behaviour and he finds the statements by Harmon unhelpful to the situation.
“Calling this a struggle against a fraudulent government and oppression tells you the extent to which Mr. Harmon is trying to misuse the circumstances that surround us as a nation,” Dr. Ali said.

The President said that the deaths of the young men have nothing to do with oppression of anything about the government.
“This is not a struggle against a fraudulent government. We respect the rights of every single Guyanese to peacefully demonstrate, to peacefully let their feelings and thoughts be heard, that is our fundamental right that this government supports,” the President said.

As Guyanese, Dr. Ali said this is the time for citizens to act in a responsible manner and leaders must not misuse the circumstances.
“They must not use this as a tool to achieve selfish desires. They must not see this as an opportunity to whip up trouble in our country. I call upon all the leaders of this country, I call upon all the democratic institutions to condemn what is taking place, to condemn the actions of the criminals, the murderers and those who are creating havoc in the communities by beating, chopping robbing and raping people,” the President emphasised.

The President said he will be in every community across this country to bring healing, to talk to residents and to work on their priorities, but he called on all Guyanese to be responsible and peaceful.

“Let the police conduct their investigations, let the police conduct their work, allow them to act professionally, allow them to get effectively and efficiently to the bottom of this all,” the President said. He added: “You cannot continue to block the roadways; you cannot allow persons to inflict harm on others and destroy their property.”
The President called for healing, unity and to allow the hurt and the families who are dealing with the grief, hurt and pain to allow them to be respected in this difficult time.