Brigadier David Granger did me no favour he did his duty

Dear Editor,
I thank Mr. Harry Gill for his letter, “If David Granger played no part in the 1973 rigged elections let him refute Harripaul’s account,” (Kaieteur News 03-07-11). I will take his advice and make a full disclosure. I am not a member of the PNC, nor am I a part of David Granger’s campaign staff.
I do not speak for, or on behalf, of David Granger. I speak only for myself as a former PPP activist, a former activist of ROAR, as an Indian rights activist, and as a concerned Guyanese. My support for David Granger is dictated by my conscience. I expect no rewards for my efforts. I am doing this from my heart.
Mr. Gill wrote that David Granger did me a favour and that my support for him was my way of paying him back for his kindness. Let me clarify this misrepresentation. I did not ask David Granger for a favour, nor did he do me any. I had a problem with the officer in charge of the Credit Union. I went to see the Force Commander Brig. Granger about the matter. He saw me, listened to me, and took prompt remedial action.
David Granger did his duty. He was firm, fair, and just. This is the kind of leadership that is totally absent in the PPP regime. That is why the current political directorate is governing in their interest only, and that is to acquire vast fortunes and build mansions, whilst sugar workers and their children go to bed hungry in their small bare dwellings. Sugar workers need a leader like David Granger. All Guyanese deserve David Granger as their President.
I wish to let Mr. Gill, and all Guyanese, especially Indians, know that I support David Granger because my conscience cries out to me to do so, at a time when the PPP government leaders are mired in corruption and debauchery. It is morally repugnant to hear tales of the sexual exploitation of young girls by some in the PPP regime, and the prostitution of little girls by their pals in organised crime.
Guyana needs a leader who is steeped in moral and religious values, and who has the will and ability to weed out corruption, drug trafficking, and lawlessness, and restore law and order. This is where Brig. Granger’s army experience and public security expertise will be a huge asset to his presidency.
Mr. Gill wrote of my “gumption to finally admit” that the 1973 elections were rigged, and that it was “a damning admission by a former officer in the GDF.” This is a bit hilarious to me because Mr. Gill seemed to think that it was the first time I was making such a statement. I have said so many times in the past. Maybe Mr. Gill should do some research on my letters going back to the late 1980’s.
As regards David Granger’s role or non-role, in that election, I have no clue about it, and I don’t care, after all what has that got do with his presidential bid? It is of interest only to the PPP leaders in a bid to whip up racial fear of the black man.
If Dr Cheddi Jagan, after the 1973 elections, supported Mr. Burnham and entered into secret power sharing talks with the PNC to merge and form a one party state where elections were not necessary, how then does David Granger’s service in the GDF disqualifies him? PNC henchman Rabbi Washington was jailed for murder by the Hoyte administration, but Ms Janet Jagan had him released. She said he was mis-used by Burnham. PNC thug Errol Butcher was jailed for drug trafficking by Hoyte and released by Janet Jagan. She said he would help mobilise support for the PPP in South Georgetown. How come it is OK for the PPP to free, and socialise with violent criminals, but it has an objection to a righteous and just soldier becoming President of Guyana?
Mr. Gill commented about my reference to the Mahabharat so I will clarify the moral for him. It is that since we all have a spark of God in our hearts, no one is ever totally evil. Bhisma’s duty was to the State of Hastinapur, and so it was his duty to fight on the side of the State, although it was in the wrong. Bhisma was not just a warrior, but also an enlightened soul, yet his duty caused him to fight on the side of evil. Lord Khrisna, who was on the side of religion and truth, recognised that Bhisma was fulfilling his duty, and so he was not
ostracized. Bhisma in doing his duty could be classified as an evil man. I trust Mr. Gill gets the lesson.
Another reference I made was to King Pandu who was just and righteous. Whilst on a hunt he accidentally shot and killed a sage and his wife. There was no witness to the incident. Pandu reported the matter to the court and asked for judgement. The court found that it was an accident and that he was not culpable. Pandu disagreed saying that lives were lost and he was responsible. He gave up the crown and retired to the forest and lived in a mud hut as penance for his crime.
Is there anyone in the PPP regime with such moral values? I don’t think so. These are people who when their supporters were being killed in the late 1990’s said that they were involved in drugs. What cowards. The PPP government officials are famous for hit and run, pistol whipping, drunken behaviour, corruption, and child molestation. One PPP leader sexually exploited his secretary by promising her a US visa. She eventually committed suicide. Are we going to vote for the PPP again? No Way!
Malcolm Harripaul