Guyana’s test: Justice or double standards?

Dear Editor,
Democracy is not a slogan; it’s a standard. Laws and by-laws must be just, clear, and liveable – and when they’re broken, justice must be evenhanded. That means exemplary penalties when guilt is proven, no matter a person’s title or party.
Former APNU+AFC Parliamentarian Devin Sears was reportedly intercepted by Police with bags suspected of containing marijuana. The facts belong to the courts. The principle belongs to all of us: the law cannot blink for the powerful.
Other democracies offer warnings. Canada learnt how fast public trust evaporates when politicians preach “zero tolerance” and later profit from legal cannabis – hypocrisy that turns voters cynical. In the United Kingdom, drug controversies have triggered independent probes, suspensions, and byelections – consequences, not excuses. Germany is legalising under tight rules, yet standards for public servants remain strict. The message is the same: shifting drug policy is no cover for double standards.
Guyana should set the bar, not lower it. Conduct a thorough, independent investigation. Publish the timeline. Hold every accused person to account, irrespective of status or affiliation. If charges are laid and guilt is proven, let the punishment be unmistakable – both as justice and as deterrence.
We can argue about policy tomorrow. Today, we must prove that the rules apply to everyone. Guyana deserves leaders who live as if law and integrity both matter – especially when no one is watching.

Yours sincerely,
Philip Inshanally