Gya: Hands off Gajraj

THE People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) staged another walkout from the National Assembly after it unsuccessfully sought to adjourn the agenda of the National Assembly yesterday to discuss what it described as a matter of urgent public importance was disallowed by the Speaker, Ralph Ramkarran, on the grounds that it did not meet the requirements of a matter of urgent importance and it was not tabled in accordance with the time schedule for submitting such a motion.

Leader of the Opposition and the PNC/R, Mr. Robert Corbin sought to bring to the National Assembly the issue of the alleged existence of death squads and their linkage to Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj as a matter of definite urgent public importance, contending that it poses a serious threat to human rights in Guyana.

Reading from a letter he sent earlier to the Speaker indicating his intention of moving the motion, Corbin reiterated the PNC/R's call for an independent inquiry into the allegation of the minister's involvement in death squads, and his removal from office to accommodate such an inquiry. He added that similar calls have been made by local political parties and reputable human rights international organizations.
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The PNC/R members then proceeded to join a protest outside the National Assembly held at Ocean View Convention Centre, calling for the removal of the Home Affairs Minister.

Imagine that! The Guyanese Minister of Home Affairs may not travel to the U.K., Canada, or the U.S. because his visa has been revoked because of allegations concerning his links with death squads. Worse yet, Guyanese citizens who have knowledge of murders, allegedly committed by the death squads and police officers, dare not come forward for fear of their lives. Yet, the party in power does not consider that those allegations are of "urgent importance" so no discussion can occur; moreover, the government puts petty parliamentary procedure as a stumbling block to justice.

As long as there are death squads in Guyana, there can be no rule of law. There can be no open government or law enforcement. If Gajraj cannot be brought to account, then one must wonder who is the real power in Guyana? Clearly, it's not PM Jagdeo ... unless he's in league with Gajraj.