Submitted by Rickford Burke
On March 31, 2014, the Kaieteur Newspaper in an article captioned ‘Police note PPP speakers comments on Crum-Ewing murder’ reported that “Former President Jagdeo suggested that Crum-Ewing might have been killed to boost the opposition elections campaign.”
The article also stated that “Speaking at the People’s Progressive Party’s rally in Kitty, Jagdeo said that Crum-Ewing, a former army officer, could have been killed for the PNC to send their messages of racism… and that the police need to find out urgently who did this and I am telling you if they do that, you would probably be shocked to find out who killed this guy.”
First, Bharrat Jagdeo has publicly admitted to being in possession of information that can assist the police in a homicide investigation. Hence, it would be negligent for the Police to fail to interrogate him. The laws of Guyana apply to everyone. I therefore call on the Crime Chief of the Guyana Police Force immediately question Mr. Jagdeo who apparently has information can assist in the capture and prosecution of Mr. Crum-Ewing killers.
Second, last week at a political rally, President Donald Ramator referred to Courtney Crum-Ewing as a “nuisance” and likened him to a “criminal.” The Guyana Bar Association instantly condemned Mr. Ramotar’s comments, saying “The murder of activist Courtney Crum-Ewing has undermined Guyana’s democracy contributing to a cycle of fear and President Donald Ramotar’s attempt to liken him to a criminal is ill-advised.”
Third, Sufice to say that Mr. Ramotar’s comments established the prima facie motive for Mr. Crum-Ewing’s assassination. He was a “nuisance” to the PPP government – said the President.
Fourth, I proffer to the Caribbean community and the world that, according to President Ramotar, urging fellow citizens to vote against the PPP government of Guyana is a nuisance – a crime – for which you citizens are killed like dogs by mercenaries for the regime against which the victims urged that the franchise be exercised.
Fifth, it is disgraceful for both President Donald Ramotar and Bharrat Jagdeo to, while standing at the husting dripping in red – their party’s color – like the lynchers of our ancestors – defile the character of a murder victim who was assassinated in the exercise of his democratic right. Worst, they have done so while his family; including young children, are in morning and bereavement. They have no decency or class. Their conduct is a reprobate and odious repudiation of human civilization. It must be denounced everywhere and by all.
Sixth, Bharrat Jagdeo knows “a thing or two” about the raison d’etre of political assassinations and murders of young black men. He and his government have allegedly been complicit in the Phantom Death squad‘s calculated murder of over 400 young men in Guyana. These extra-judicial killings engendered a sea of national and international outrage, which forced Jagdeo, as President, to appoint a Commission of Inquiry. An investigation conducted by United Nations Special Rapporteur for Minority Rights, Gay McDougall, established such extrajudicial killings. Bharat Jagdeo is on record as defending the head of this said death squad, convicted drug baron Roger Khan.
Seventh, the Phantom death squad allegedly functioned under the direction of Jagdeo’s Cabinet National Security Minister, Ronald Gajraj. The Guyanese nation must be reminded that, despite Gajraj’s alleged suspicious and known unlawful activities, Jagdeo refused to fire and prosecute him.
Eight, On April 12, 2005, Spokesman for the US Department of State, Ambassador Richard Boucher, in a statement said that “the United States is concerned by the Government of Guyana’s decision to reinstate former Home Minister Ronald Gajraj…. A Guyanese commission of inquiry looking into his links to the so-called “phantom death squad” has found serious procedural irregularities in his official conduct related to his involvement with individuals who allegedly carried out extra-judicial killings…. We believe significant questions remain unanswered regarding his involvement in serious criminal activities…”
Ninth, after the US government forced Gajraj to resign, Jagdeo immediately appointed him Ambassador to India and whisk him off under the suspicious cloud of ‘diplomatic immunity.” However, the arch of the International Criminal Court and US Justice Department are long but bends towards justice!
Tenth, IT IS TIME: that all those murder victims and their families receive justice!
IT IS TIME: that Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar and the PPP explain who are the ”criminals” and why a criminal was in the cabinet? When they do, the nation might be surprised!
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