Dear Editor,
At the risk of being tedious I cannot help expressing disgust at the way Captain Price of the MV Barima, Roberts and Granderson employees of the Transport and Harbours Department have been held for murder. The law has its own interesting twists and turns; however, it must always dispense justice as we ordinary citizens understand it. Martin Luther King Jr once reminded us that “Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere”.
Dear citizens be reminded that our Head of State has pronounced on this matter of the Barima tragedy, he made it crystal clear that we should await the findings of the commission of inquiry, before deeming any person or persons responsible for this tragedy, and by extension the deaths of those who were alleged to be onboard. So, why do we have three men enduring the pain and suffering of being locked up, charged, not for negligence, not for dereliction of duty, but for the capital offence of murder, it makes no sense.
I recall the 1969 Rupununi uprising, during the early stages of the Burnham administration, when five police officers and two civilians were killed, a number of our Amerindian brothers were charged for murder, however, due to the environment of compassion they were all released by the courts. Many of us are bothered and bewildered that these three men have been denied their freedom, in circumstances where the MV Barima has yet to be raised, to help us get more the answers as to the cause of this tragedy. Recall hours after the sinking of the Barima, statements from high officials attributed the cause to high winds. If there is any compassion left, if there is any humanity left, if there is any sense of justice, these three men should be released without further procrastination.
Even as I share the pain of these three families, I ask that everywhere we pray that they be reunited with their families.
Sincerely,
Elder Hamilton Green
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