propaganda press! freedom in Guyana

Political observers have raised concerns that drug tsars of Indian descent are protected by the Guyana Government and are aided in avoiding extradition to the U.S. to face prosecution. The American Government has at times publicly expressed no-confidence in the Guyanese administration when it comes to sharing intelligence gathered on suspected drug lords.

They fear that such information would be leaked to the drug tsars before an arrest is affected. The relationship between the two Governments on the matter of narcotics trafficking and money laundering has at times become very adversarial. Published displeasure at the Americans can be seen by the ex president, Janet Jagan and current President Jagdeo. According to Roger Khan, (the notorious Guyanese drug tsar presently before the U.S. courts on drug charges) the Guyanese administration engages in complicit relationships with some of the very people accused of participating in drug smuggling. Naturally, this is seen by the public and international drug enforcement agencies as a conflict of interest. When arrested, Roger Khan disclosed that he was given free reign by the administration to assassinate persons whom he perceived to be competitors of his illegal drug empire. As compensation for this privileged access, the drug dealer claimed that lucrative financial bribes were given to senior members within the PPP Government.

As a superficial gesture, low level drug mules who happen to be of African descent are symbolically targeted to pacify the Americans. However, many of the Indo Guyanese business cummunity who are the masterminds behind the drug cartels are able to operate with impunity. It would appear that they are openly protected from being  extradited to the U.S. face charges.

A case in point is the businessman, Barry Datram who was recently fingered by the Americans to be a narcotics exporter. The Guyanese administration through it’s Government controlled courts are seemingly placing every obstacle in the way to prevent Mr. Datram from being extradited to the U.S. to face the charges. In another example. Eventhough the discovery of an illegal airstrip with heavy duty machinery clearly points to known businessmen with narcotics connection in the Berbice region… arrests are being stymied.

Roger Khan’s account of extra judicial killings is well document and verifiable. It also explains the fear that grips the Guyanese nation of being targeted for death if they were viewed to be critical the Government. The noted TV Journalist Ronald Waddell was one such outspoken critic and prior to his death, claimed that he uncovered damaging information of the Government’s involvement with drug lords. Unfortunately, before he had an opportunity to make his findings public, he was ambushed and assassinated in front of his home. 

Another outspoken critic of the Government, Mark Benschop was imprisoned with trumped up charges of treason and sedition. He was arrested for staging a peaceful demonstration in front of the parliament building and locked away for five years without  pre-trial liberty or bail. Eventually, through the efforts of human rights groups, his plight was agreed to be heard by an American based human rights court. Just prior to the case being heard, the Guyanese president announced that Mr. Benschop would be given a complete pardon. Since the accused was never convicted by any court for the crimes, critics argued that the move was just an attempt by the Guyanese president to cover up the illegal detainment of Mr. Benschop.   

Open critics, myself included, are keenly aware that our dissenting voices could be silenced by the Government with the use of assassination or trumped up charges to justify detention. Guyana’s rekindling relationship with Russia has caused many to posit that the government now emulates President Putin’s style of elected dictatorship. 

Berkeley Van Bowen