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The
others were Vincent Alexander for the PNC/R, and Vic Puran who supported
Alexander along with Dev. The host of course was M.F. Khan.
Lumumba
made a strong point, among others, that Ravi Dev had stayed abroad, until the
PPP/Civic had won the elections in 1992 and formed the government when he felt
it was safe to return and engage in politics and freely express his views.
Mr.
Lumumba also forcefully and eloquently pointed out to Alexander, that the fact
that they were there to openly discuss unsubstantiated allegations against the
Minister of Home Affairs was a tribute and testimony to the freedom of
expression that has been restored to the media with the coming into office in
October 9, 1992 by the PPP/Civic government.
But
then, which opponent of the PPP/C government likes to be reminded that the
reason he or she is able to be so open, so publicly vocal, so unrestrained, so
critical, so resentful, so antagonistic, and/or so hateful of the government
and its functionaries and whatever they so or do, is because this very
resented, hated government restored the rights and freedoms of the individuals
that their own party had denied the Guyanese people in one form or another for
so long?
The truth really does hurt!
Although
some people would say that these people are so unreasonably antagonistic that
they do not have a conscience, I would not go that route. I would simply pity
them. I would urge the government to continue its policy of press freedom and
allow its opponents to continue demonstrating to the Guyanese people and to
the world at large who and what they really are.
I would not be too bothered, either, by the crowd that they seem to be
drawing. I remember the Bible story of Lucifer being cast down from Heaven and
his wicked angels with him, and so I am consoled by the fact that these
opponents will always have a following - people who prefer to be led by their
noses than think, analyze and decide for themselves.
Yours
faithfully,
David Duliram
