GHRA should condemn Government’s violation of human rights

Dear Editor,
There is a growing number of cases pertaining to victimisation and discrimination by the APNU/AFC coalition Government.
Discrimination is treating or proposing to treat someone unfavourably because of a personal characteristic protected by law. This includes bullying someone because of a protected characteristic. The Equal Opportunity Act 2010 — Victoria’s anti-discrimination law — protects people from discrimination and harassment in areas of public life, such as workplaces, schools, hospitals, or places that provide services.
Victimisation is subjecting or threatening to subject someone to something detrimental because they have asserted their rights under equal opportunity law.
The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) is mandated to ensure that the human rights of Guyanese are protected. Before May 2015, this association was very vocal on issues that were and were not in violation of human rights. Presently, the silence of the GHRA could cause it to be considered nonfunctional, and as such, it must have a more vibrant association in order to be vocal to represent and uphold the basic human rights that are slowly but surely be taken away from Guyanese by the APNU/AFC coalition Government.
Recently, a doctor from Baramita, who went public about life saving issues of his community, particularly the shortages of drugs and medical supplies, stated that he feels victimised.

The same issues of the shortages of drugs and medical supplies was raised at Skeldon Hospital by the media and the staff, including doctors, was also been victimised.
A senior Police officer refused to take instructions from the Commissioner of Police through a civilian’s phone, and was been transferred from one division to another. The Police officer, within days of that incident, publicly stated that he feels victimised and discriminated against. The Minister of Public Security was informed in writing, but refused to investigate this incident and resolve the matter. This Police officer was ensuring that he was doing his job in a professional manner.
Recently, a Police officer was caught in a mini bus with whiskey, and was sent on leave. Why cannot other Police officers vehicles be stopped and searched?
A sitting Member of Parliament criticised the Speaker of the National Assembly publicly in the press, with substantial ‘evidence’ that he is biased against Opposition members. Imagine that a member of Parliament cannot publicly inform the Guyanese people who voted for him the challenges he is encountering in Parliament, and as such, he was placed before the Privileges Committee, where the Speaker of the National Assembly will definitely be the judge. This is discrimination and victimisation at the highest level.
Contractors who are not willing to be part of the corruption that is taking place in the Government system are not been awarded contracts. At most, or even all of the Ministries, there is information that corruption is rampant, within which it is been tolerated by the Ministers.
These are just some of the few cases that’s in the public domain, where the rights of Guyanese are been trampled upon. Numerous persons are afraid to speak out against this APNU/AFC coalition Government because of the fear of losing their jobs or being victimised using Government agencies. The GHRA, civil society, non-governmental organisations, the media and other stakeholders should condemn these and other acts of victimisation and discrimination.

Yours respectfully,
Zamal Hussain