Dear Editor,
I WOULD like Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo to know he can fool some of the people some of the time, but he cannot fool all the people all the time. I had to blink more than once, because I couldn’t believe what I was reading in the newspapers. I read that Mr. Jagdeo was calling off his Dogs of War, telling them to stop attacking Justice Claudette Singh, the Chairperson of GECOM.
Some would say better late than never; some find it hard to forget how nasty and ugly were those attacks against Justice Singh. One daily newspaper columnist called her the worst person in the whole world. There have been daily hate mail in the newspapers and some articles. Never see so much hate.
On social media, PPP/C supporters called her “claw death”, which was liked and shared by many more supporters. Another used the picture of the Minneapolis police who had his knee on George Floyd’s neck, kneeling the life out of him. President David Granger’s face was placed on the policeman’s head, and Justice Singh’s head was placed on Mr. Floyd’s. How disgusting and gruesome, but the picture received a lot of likes, love, laughter and shares.
Some on social media had also placed a price on Justice Singh’s head. She responded to this threat with class and dignity, saying she is not afraid to die. Another created a picture of the devil with horns, and put Justice Singh’s face on it. PPP/C supporters couldn’t get enough of the attacks; they were loving and sharing them with glee.
Mr. Jagdeo never before condemned the hate and cruelty, but now finds his voice. I see that in calling off the Dogs of War, he has also accused Coalition supporters of attacking Justice Singh. Some Coalition supporters have expressed disagreement now and again with decisions Justice Singh made. This is free speech, and enjoying the right to dissent; I think the Chairperson would respect that. Those supporters were expressing their views, but never called Justice Singh out of her name; never made hateful and unkind photos of her, or made personal hate-filled statements about her.
That is the big difference, Mr. Jagdeo; please acknowledge it. I am happy the Dogs of War are being called off. I doubt they can accept they would now be leashed or penned. They were having too much fun with their hatred, and glowed in the ‘Likes’ they received from Party comrades. The genie has already left the bottle, and cannot go back in. They say too late too late shall be the cry.
I continue to admire the grace and dignity with which Justice Singh goes about her business. She seems not to be disturbed by the haters and the disrespect shown to her. I am not in her shoes, but I know it cannot be easy to put a smile on your face when you are being unfairly attacked, and so often. This opportunity is taken to tell Justice Singh that prayers are being offered for her daily. God is watching over, and He will never leave her nor forsake her.
Yours Sincerely,
B. Beniprashad Rayman
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_06_12_2020