By Peter R. Ramsaroop
As published in Stabroek News
July, 5th 2003
As a member of the REFORM, I must publicly state that I, along with others in the REFORM, condemned the unruly acts of violence that have put shame on our beautiful Guyana. However, it is not only about speaking out, but also practical actions to prove that we are not in support of calling for a Government to toppled by force.
It is also time that the two REFORM MPs to step out of the shadows, speak out against this violence and return to Parliament to discuss the necessary reforms needed to move our nation forward. There is no need to let the PPP/C do this alone. They simply cannot.
We must arrest all individuals that instigated this act of violence and must not refer to them as leaders. Leaders are individuals that lead their people to greatness not death. I am in full agreement with Mr. Joe Hamilton’s letter in SN 07/06/02, his courage is recognized by many. The fact that senior leaders of the PNC/R will sit on the same stage with these individuals that led this act of violence is appalling.
Every time a business is destroyed, fewer jobs are there for our people. They are causing our country to suffer both economically and socially. To infer that because people are bitter they have the right to perform such acts are again appalling. Every international news media, AP, CNN, BBC, carried the news as “ Police, meanwhile, kept a heavy presence on the streets of the South American country’s capital to prevent further outbreaks of violence such as the confrontation between police and opposition party protesters that left two dead and at least 12 wounded on Wednesday.”
To our PNC/R executives, this continues to be our image locally and internationally. We need to wake up and realize we have failed our supporters. It is time to put practical solutions and learn to negotiate for the betterment of all-Guyanese. As Mr. Hamilton said, we must address the core issues of or party and race politics.
No of us can sit back and allow our image, our integrity and the trust of a majority of our supporters to be tarnished. We are allowing a minority of supporters who like the streets and violence to speak for the majority of law-abiding citizens. It is time more of us speak out against the lack of focus by our leadership on both sides. Mr. Hamilton, your courage and those of many others will make a difference.
Yours Faithfully,
Peter R. Ramsaroop, MBA
REFORM
Filed under: Politics
