Dear Editor, I’m completely devastated by the death of my dear friend, Dr Faith Azelia Harding. I served as Special Assistant to Faith during her tenure as Minister for the Public Service in Guyana. Faith was not only a colleague; she was family – someone with whom I shared a deep and unshakable maternal bond. She was a genuine confidant and counselor. Whether, she was serving as a Government Minister or a United Nations representative in Asia or Africa, Faith always took time out of her busy schedule to maintain…
Read MoreCategory: Letters
Attack ideas and issues, not people
Dear Editor, It is so shocking and appalling to read about the intense level of personal attacks in so many of the writings (and even in some of the news items) in the daily newspapers in Guyana. Why should we call people by so many foul, contemptuous, ill-mannered, highly offensive and disgusting, malicious and just downrightly nasty names because we do not approve of what they do, write or say? And the people who often pen this willfully destructive language so proudly like to present themselves to the world as…
Read MoreThe British High Commissioner believes his country is still a colonial power
Dear Editor, I have seen the reports in the Sunday papers on the reaction of the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) to the statement by Caricom Ministers criticising the blatant interference and the mis-leading and untruthful remarks made by the British High Commissioner in Guyana in relation to prorogation of the Parliament and democracy. I was immediately reminded of the old saying, “History tends to repeat itself, first as a tragedy and second as a farce”. I also reminded myself that this is the problem with the GTUC. It does…
Read MoreHonouring Dr Martin Luther King, Jr
Dear Editor, Americans on each third Monday of January honour the life and achievements of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, (1929–1968), the 1964 Nobel Peace Laureate and the individual most associated with the triumphs of the African-American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. As political organiser, supremely skilled orator and advocate of nonviolent protest, King was pivotal in persuading his fellow Americans to end the legal segregation that prevailed throughout the South and parts of other regions, and in sparking support for the civil rights legislation that…
Read MorePope’s message of peace relevant in today’s world
Dear Editor, I followed with interest Pope Francis’ recent visit to Asia. I was highly impressed with the message of peace and reconciliation by the Pope which is so relevant in today’s world in which there is so much tension and conflict. His visit to Sri Lanka and the Phillipines generated extraordinary mass appeal and seemed to have resonated with Catholics and people generally, in particular his call for greater concern for underprivileged children and for the poor and needy. According to media reports, over six million people attended papal…
Read MoreFreedom of expression is constantly being abused
Dear Editor, Guyana is perhaps one country where freedom of expression is constantly abused despite utterances to the contrary by a bunch of people opposed to the Government. How can we conclude that there is no freedom of expression when Kaieteur News on a daily basis personally attacks the President, Ministers of the Government and other prominent persons through its columnist Freddie Kissoon and Dem Boys Seh column? These people do not need a Freedom of Information Act to spread their bile since their arrogance and disrespect for authority has…
Read MoreOverturning Obama’s immigration policy could result in more deportations
Dear Editor The Republican-dominated House of Representatives passed a Bill on Thursday defying President Obama’s Executive Order to grant protection to illegal immigrants who have not run afoul of American laws. The President’s directive protects some five million illegal immigrants, including thousands of Guyanese, who came to the US prior to 2012 and have not broken any laws. They would be required to pay a fee and work legally, although they will not be able to travel overseas. The Executive Order could later on be amended to allow for overseas…
Read MoreThere is much confidence in the Jagdeo-led Commonwealth team
Dear Editor, Reference is made to former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s appointment to lead the Commonwealth Observer mission in Sri Lanka for the Presidential election. The former President’s invitation and his acceptance have become critical to ensure a free and fair election in Lanka. There is full faith and confidence in the mission and in Jagdeo’s ability to oversee the team. Besides, Jagdeo’s team, there are also several other international and local missions. The election is being keenly watched to prevent electoral rigging like what happened in Guyana during the PNC…
Read MoreThe PPP has always embraced a working class ideology
Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) salutes the entire membership and supporters of the party on the occasion of its 65th anniversary. As is popular knowledge, the PPP was formed on January 1, 1950 with Dr Cheddi Jagan and his wife Janet as founder leaders. This makes the PPP/C not only the oldest but also the largest and most respected political party in the country. The PPP/C is proud of the role it has played in the granting of internal self Government and subsequently in the struggle for political…
Read MoreLet’s call a date for elections
Dear Editor, Another eventful year has come to a close in Guyana. The naysayers and doomdayers have been running amok like flies looking for sores. At the same time, they have conveniently ignored all the developments in the country. The mudraker and its reporters with their jaundiced eyes have not seen developments that many other Guyanese have enjoyed. The prorogation of Parliament by the President was a very important decision in the field of politics. This, I strongly feel, is a judicious decision and the best of the options available…
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