Honouring our fallen heroes while keeping a close watch on subversive elements

Dear Editor,
Quite recently, the Guyana Police Force held a commemorative rally to pay tribute to those heroes of the Force who have fallen in the line of duty. In fact, we as a nation pay tribute to those of our Police officers who have paid the ultimate price in keeping our country a safe place to live in. We treasure their contribution to our society in maintaining peace and civility.
While we remember our fallen servicemen, at the same time we will not forget the past struggles we had to face, against those who do not want a peaceful and progressive society to blossom in this part of the globe. I make mention of those who support violence and all forms of subversive activities. I call to remembrance the violent attack on the Office of the President by armed thugs.
This was an attack meant to overthrow the democratically elected Government of the day. It took quick action for the GPF to put down that insurrection. Now, in that fiasco, it is interesting to note that support for the armed thugs came from Opposition forces at that time, while castigating the Police for bringing an end to the violence.
The Opposition called them “revolutionaries,” an endearment that is still used today. Fast forward to the 2002 jailbreak and the way the murderers were idolised in some quarters. Fineman and his gang went on a murderous rampage through our country, killing 26 policemen as they went on the mayhem. In the streets, Opposition supporters openly chanted “Kill the Police” with not a word of condemnation coming from those in the political divide.
This is the past that we have come from, a past of chaos and confusion with the GPF bearing the brunt of the assault, all because they kept the peace, while not willing that our society disintegrates into a violent convulsion. Today we live in tranquillity, thanks to our lawmen, it is a peace that we treasure and hold dear to our hearts; it is a peace that was well fought for and one that we would like to maintain. Let us live in peace!

Respectfully,
Neil Adams