Full investigation of West Berbice murders means everything on the table

Dear Editor,

I refer to the article titled, `Police non-committal on Argentine’s expert request for documents on Berbice murders’ (SN December 16).  My first reaction was: not again!  Here we go again.  And where I go, nobody from the president on down is not going to like.  My response to that is simple: they all know what they can do with that: stuff it is a good start.

On every occasion that I let down my guard on lend some trust to what political leaders say, disappointment inevitably comes.  No matter how delayed, how subtle, how cunning, it follows and all the way from the top.  For there was the mighty President Ali solemnly promising something along the lines of a full investigation on the heinous murders that occurred in the West Berbice area, shocked the nation by their gruesomeness, and poisoned and polarized it still further.  In my book, which I am almost positive that His Excellency nor any of his crafty comrades have time for, full investigation means everything on the table, nothing held back, and let the evidence and the rest lead wherever they do.

But today, after all the brutalities on the village roads, all the passions unleashed, there is this development in SN about “police non-committal” on release of files related to the matters.  Clearly, there are the usual skullduggeries, and what could be the early indications of orchestrations for covering up where things may lead, in motion.  To be candid, I am disinclined to believe that it is the Guyana Police Force that is non-committal and balking.  Because if that were so, then it is a small matter of national importance that should compel the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs to put in a word and say, it would be appropriate for those files to be released.  And that all the documents within them be also delivered, and not partial files or empty files.  Yet, it would seem that the Hon. Minister has been a little slow on the draw on this one, which is surprising since this is a matter of such sensitivity, and when one takes into consideration the supposedly sincere declarations of the Head of State about getting to the bottom of things, regardless of where such leads.  I would hope that he has not lost his head on this, as in having one of those increasingly (and convenient) senior moments.  On other things, I may be prepared to think stresses of the job, and limitations in capacity.  But on this one from West Berbice, I am immovable: full investigation, open book, and total commitment.  No more of this nonsense about non-committal on the delivery of the files, all of them, with all of their contents, and all associated people made available.

If the police cannot do so on their own.  The minister must make it do so.  On this, I am supportive of political interference for national insight and national gain and peace.  And if the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs is of a different and disagreeable portion, then he must be leaned upon to see things more cooperatively.  I am sure that he would be a willing partner with this.

But that is not where or with whom that I think the problem rests.  I don’t think it is the GPF being reluctant, hesitant, and adamant.  I do not think that it is the Hon. Minister either; though he is known for being a bit steely.  For neither operates in a vacuum and the Argentine team did not drop in on Guyana from the sky unannounced and unnoticed.  It came here for one purpose, and to get closer to bringing that purpose to some semblance of fruition, its members have to have papers, as in availability and access.  Thus, I think that this is bigger than the GPF and the responsible minister.  I think that the police’s obstinacy has a source that travels a bit circuitously, but it always ends up at State House and with the president.  Now the families wait on the president.  The nation waits on the president.  I am not waiting on anybody, which should relay the regard that I have for them.

Yours faithfully,

GHK Lall