Conversation Tree

WHERE’S THE EVIDENCE?

For several decades the Government’s response to allegations of the existence of corruption was: Where’s the evidence? This response served to close down such allegations. Rarely, if ever, are such allegations, when courageously made, referred to the Police. In Guyana, and many other developing countries for that matter, such allegations are treated as political attacks, even if emanating from sympathizers. This denialism and sensitivity to allegations of corruption from anyone, including the Opposition, is so pronounced that those who raise the issue are consigned to a special place in political hell. The lesson has been learnt. No friends or well-wishers of the Government would risk to raise the issue of corruption, even generally, unless they want to risk losing that friendship.

THE FLOGGING OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS

News reports yesterday suggest that the Ministry of Education will soon pronounce on the issue of the flogging of ten Queen’s College students by a senior teacher which occurred on May 16. The matter had attracted wide publicity and a report by the Board of Governors containing recommendations has been submitted to the Ministry of Education which is being reviewed. It is expected that the Ministry’s focus will be on the incident at Queen’s College and not on the broader question of corporal punishment in schools. Yet there are few issues that attract more controversy and others consider of less compelling urgency.

LOOKING OVERSEAS – TRUMP AND THE ANC

There is always much to write about Guyana. But whether there is anything this week beyond the regular news, good and bad, to interest the reader enough to spend fifteen minutes on a Sunday morning on a 800-word article, is doubtful. One exception is the election of Kamal Ramkarran as the new Bar Association President. I can write about this a whole lot, good and bad, and I can give a lot of advice but since I expect that it will only be politely ‘given consideration,’ I have to decline and seek out events overseas.

GUYANA AT 58

Birthdays are always a time for celebration and reflection. Many Guyanese will feel happy that we have survived as a united nation. For reasons of partisan politicking, Independence was de-emphasized after Guyana became a Republic on 23 February, the date of the Berbice Slave Rebellion in 1763. It was also conveniently close to Burnham’s birthday on 20 February. Republic Day became the occasion for Guyanese to express their patriotic fervour while Independence Day was all but forgotten, only to be revived after the PPP attained office in 1992. Although there are virtually no celebrations by the public, I am sure that most agree with me that a day off work is welcome. The reason for the holiday gives us the opportunity to reflect on what Guyana has achieved while enjoying time over a long weekend with friends and family and maybe a glass of wine or beer along with favourite dishes. For some, swimming and picnicking out of town are the preferred means of celebration. For many it beats, any day, the crowds and raucous music of the younger and more daring on Republic Day.

WILL A GUYANESE FILL THE VACANCY ON THE CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE?

The untimely passing in January last of the able and distinguished Justice Jacob Wit of the Netherlands has created a vacancy in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The vacancy is required to be filled by the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (Commission) appointed pursuant to Article V(1) of the Agreement Establishing the CCJ signed by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in February 2001. Guyana is not currently represented on the Commission, although it was represented in the past. The Commission consists of the President of the CCJ, who is its Chair, and ten persons nominated by various bodies including a Judicial Service Commission, a Public Service Commission, Secretary General of the Community and Director General of the OECS, Dean of Faculty of Law of the UWI and Council of Legal Education and Bar Associations. The work of the Commission is not publicized.