It is certainly desperation mode for some of us

Dear Editor,
General Elections Guyana 2025 is in the air, and everything is in fever pitch mode, as all the contesting parties gear up for the big day. Each party is showcasing to the electorate that they are willing and able to take up the mantle of leadership to govern this country. There are 27 contesting parties vying for that coveted title of President of the Republic.
On Saturday 21st June around 8:10pm, shots rang out close to Bishop Edghill’s residence in South Ruimveldt. Bishop Edghill is a PPP/C politician and a sitting member of parliament, so one can readily see the meaning or grasp the significance of that drive-by shooting. Why would someone shoot at, or shoot into the air as reported near to a sitting politician? Is it a celebratory act or one that was meant to drive fear and foreboding into the hearts of the Minister and, by extension, his party? This is a very serious occurrence when a sitting Minister’s home could be targeted by unknown assailants in such a violent manner; what is the motive behind all of this? Just a few weeks ago, the Bishop’s storehouse of goods for charitable work was torched by a suspect in a hoodie. These are all clear acts of aggression targeted at a Minister of the Government.
Now, these things are not mere coincidence or things that have occurred in isolation; there is a definite pattern to these goings-on, and history is replete with these instances of naked aggression, even death. Against this backdrop I refer us back to my opening paragraph, where I mentioned that it is election time and one of the backward signs of the season is violence! Guyana’s electoral history is blighted with violence, something that always raises its ugly head either before or after an election. In 1992, at the restoration of democracy, there was burning and looting and mass destruction of property. This was witnessed again in 1997 when Mrs Jagan earned a convincing win for her PPP/C party; in that election, Georgetown became a towering inferno after the PNC’s dog whistle was sounded, “Slo fiah moh fiah.”
Fast forward to 2025 and juxtapose this against Vincent Alexander’s release of prisoners to vote, the exact replica of the 2003 prison break, or was it a release from prison to commit “freedom fighter” killing duties? Isn’t this another subtle call to violence?
2025 is an interesting year, in that there are 27 parties contesting against the incumbent PPP/C; there is also a new kid on the block called Pablo, who is eager to prove a point. I must say violence is one of Pablo’s trump cards, whereby he hires paid assassins to carry out his dirty work. He supervised the destruction of The DD Properties, another testimony to his diabolical intentions. He too is in this dogfight for power.
In conclusion, there is the Creole proverb that says, “Rain don’t fall jus’ suh, eeh does set up fuss,” which means that these happenings are not sheer coincidence but a direct message of violence being sent to the PPP/C. Opposing forces are clearly increasing their power drive with a healthy dose of intimidatory tactics, and one of these is the firing of gunshots at or near to the bishop s residence.
We call on the Government to be well on their guard against the violent subversives and for the police to use every effort to maintain law and order. As my ex-Army brother would advocate and I concur there should be the appropriate use of force for those who are bent on committing violent acts; Guyana must have a peaceful season this election.

Regards,
Neil Adams