Dear Editor:
To the unwary, the Guyana parliament honoring a former PNCR parliamentarian and convicted terrorist (leading to a “stinging rebuke” from the US Embassy in Guyana) would seem like a madness, especially considering the US’ ‘wrath’ includes: “[The APNU+AFC gov’t has] left a stain on the legacy as representatives of the Guyanese people and on their commitment to the rule of law”. But there is a ‘method in this madness’ of getting on the wrong side of the US in respect of terrorism. There are bigger prizes seen through the APNU+AFC lens: the upcoming elections as the route to ethnic ascendancy of APNU’s main supporters. This was already in play under Burnham’s rigging of numerous consecutive elections.
Most Indo-Guyanese, especially the young, will tell you that May 26 is the anniversary of Guyana’s independence. Little do they know there is a horrible underside attached to the date. On May 25-26, 1964 at Wismar, across from Linden mining town, for two full days, Indo-Guyanese lived in terror of Afro-Guyanese. They were killed, brutally beaten, their homes and business burnt down and their women and young daughters were publicly raped, including with the use of inanimate objects, while the Afro-Guyanese police and the para-military, Volunteer Force, stood by as spectators. Given the ignominy of this May 26 date, the choice of it as Guyana’s Independence Day by the PNC+UF government at the 1965 independence talks with the British government can only be interpreted as sending a brutish message and an annual ‘rubbing of salt in the wounds’ reminder to Indian Guyanese that they better not step out of line, otherwise another ‘Wismar’ could be repeated at anytime, anywhere.
Thus, in honoring the convicted terrorist, a similar threat is being sent to the mainly Indian supporters of the opposition PPP party (which boycotted parliament during that sitting), that the APNU+AFC gov’t has convicted terrorist friends who could be unleashed on the PPP supporters if needed.
Recall that the Burnham’s PNC used American Black Power fugitive David Hill, aka Rabbi Washington’s ‘hit-squad’, implicated in Dr. Rodney’s assassination, as an overt threat to the PPP and Indians. Then, there was PNC candidate Ronald Waddell in 2001, who called for a boycott of Indian businesses and also “called on Indians who did not support the PPP to report to the PNC headquarters for protection.” All others were fair game for racist violence. Eusi Kwayana called it: “a major threat to people’s human rights” (Kwayana: The Morning After).
These assaults and related threats are not a new development. It will surprise, even shock, the overwhelming majority of readers that indentured Indians were beset by similar threats to their person and sexual assault of their women in their earliest contact with African Guyanese. This is set out in my just released book, A Mauling of Indians: Prof. Clem Seecharan’s Noxious, “Revisionist” Falsehoods of Indo-Guyanese History. If you would like to know more please contact me at: vedamohabir@rogers.com
Veda Nath Mohabir, Toronto

Dear Editor:
Here we have another incident where the citizens are saying one thing and our police service saying differently with the killing of a teenage girl in Carenage. This took place with the exchange of bullets between TTPS and some individuals in the area. This is one of the several events of this nature over the years, one side accusing the other with no one really knowing what really took place.
I believe the previously proposed body cameras to be worn by police in the line of duty can provide a solution to this problem. Our Commissioner of Police Mr Gary Griffith did say that funding at this time might be an issue because the cameras are costly. However, while I do understand the present financial predicament, purchasing these cameras is crucial.
We seem to be finding money to do a whole lot in the country – extensive highways costing millions upon millions for example – but we cannot find cash to show the truth when innocent lives a being taken violently. How will justice be served or how can there be fairness to all if there is no proper evidence which these cameras can provide?
As a concerned citizen, I am saying we need to do better than this, we are talking about the lives of citizens. Also, our officers need to be treated fairly and the cameras will do just that.
To those in charge and responsible for releasing the finances, look at this again and put it high on the priority list. I believe everyone should be treated fairly both the citizens and the TTPS and in so doing we can start building confidence of our much-needed police service.
I suggest that, for a start, purchase a limited supply and let officers going on raids, those confronting large angry crowds, searching promises etc use them. At least start somewhere and expand, I await some type of action. Let’s work together for a better TT.
Arnold Gopeesingh, San Juan, Trinidad