Dear Editor,
It is the private business of the Patterson family how they deal with their personal situation in regard to an allegation of trafficking of a controlled drug (cocaine) against one of their members. It is, however, a public matter for the people vs Derrick Patterson; not David Patterson. If anyone has an interest in this case, I suggest they take it up with the person who is charged, and not use the occasion to personally abuse the Minister.
So the portions of the statement from David Patterson – the individual giving support to his brother — must be commended. We all have families, and if for any reason any one of them falls into any situational challenge, it is our duty to offer them our love, irrespective of how annoyed we are at their action.
That is why I was baffled that David Patterson, the person, chose — in his statement at the bottom half — to import the voice of David Patterson, the Public Infrastructure Minister, into the debate. Since David Patterson the Minister spoke, I thought it might be wise to ask the Minister these six important questions, since he has executive access to the machinery of the State:
1: Were the controlled drugs (cocaine) trafficked from Guyana to Grenada?
2: Did the person on remand, who is a relative of the Minister, have a VIP Pass for our international ports of exit (airport, etc)?
3: Which Minister is in charge of the airport?
4: Is it common practice across the Granger Government to issue relatives of senior functionaries with VIP Passes, although they may not meet the criteria as set out by the Foreign Affairs Ministry?
5: Which Minister is in charge of security at the airport? And is that Minister a member of the Alliance For Change?
6: Does the security protocol allow VIP Pass-holders to be checked for controlled drugs (cocaine)?
I would really appreciate full transparency and disclosure on this important matter, since if this VIP Pass situation is being abused at our ports of exit, good governance would dictate that we do the “fit and proper” thing by taking corrective measures immediately, and hold those who are abusing it accountable.
Regards,
Sasenarine Singh
