Duty-free victimisation threats against critics

Dear Editor,
At a public event to memorialise the contributions of the Enmore Martyrs in Richmond Hill, Little Guyana, Queens, NY, on Sunday, a very popular Guyanese chutney singer revealed that agents (staff) of the Government threatened to withhold duty-free concessions to him and other cultural performers for their critique of the Government in the area of music. That New York event on June 25 was also used to discuss issues and the dire situation facing sugar workers, since the organisers felt the massacre at Enmore was intricately linked with sugar.
The popular Guyana-based chutney singer came to New York to record a new CD that has a sugar and rice theme – depressed wages and prices for workers and farmers in both industries and the broken promises of the coalition Government. He said he felt an obligation to grace the Enmore Martyrs event to give solidarity to those whose lives have been severely affected by the Government’s position on sugar and rice. He sang scripts from the recording.
The singer said the threat to deny him “duty-free” for his recordings will not deter him from fighting for those affected in the sugar and rice industries.
This regime seems bent on harassing, intimidating, and victimising those who are engaged in resistance against the wrongdoing of the Government. Earlier this month, customs officers at Timehri pulled over this writer and proceeded to levy duty on six pieces of traditional Indian garb, saying only three pieces are allowed – a policy unheard of. The Government is urged to stop threatening critics and those involved in resistance.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram