The Haitian assassination and its implication for the wider Caribbean

Dear Editor,
When President Jovenel Moise was assassinated, it sent shock waves throughout the world and the entire Caribbean Community in particular. Persons became ever so concerned for their own safety and for the safety and wellbeing of their own leaders at home. We became alerted to the fact that for any reason some madmen could take it upon themselves that they can go ahead and assassinate the Head of State and throw the whole democratic process into a tailspin. We are saying we cannot allow such madness to succeed in any one of our small fledgeling Caribbean territories.
Therefore, ever since that bloody situation in Haiti, there has been a heightened alert in all our sister Caricom States.
Now, a little background check into Haiti’s history shows a country that never really had a chance at real democracy or the rule of law as we know it. Theirs is a long history of high-handed corrupt leadership with a brutal, bloody side to it. Even when this country was governed by a so called “democratic” ruler, that is, Papa Doc and later on by his son Baby Doc, it was still the iron-fisted hand which became the centre of governance and leadership. Haiti was also the victim of voodoo. This cultist ritual is a mixture of African tribal necromancy and certain Catholic religious rites; hence, this country became blighted for good.
So, in a real sense, Haiti is a country that never got off the ground nor could it have a chance at freedom or democracy as we know it. Then there was the dreaded Tonton Macoute’s, which kept the civilian population in its place. There was fear and foreboding as the leaders reigned terror among the populace. Freedom of speech and freedom of movement was unheard of in Haiti. This country has always been kept under an ominous cloud of death and destruction; Haiti never had that free lease on life like other Caribbean nations enjoyed. From all indications, it seems that this country was forever blighted.
Now let us turn the searchlight on Guyana to see what obtains here. In my estimation you see traits of such atrocities in our system forged by “The Kabaka” Burnham himself. Much of the sordid history of our politics is attributed to him. Even those who came after him bore that stain of corrupt governance. Ours has been a disgraceful and despicable past – and should I say which some of us would like to see a continuation into the future – where political opponents were beaten, imprisoned and killed.
All those who dare to oppose The Forbes Burnham highhanded rule were met with torture, imprisonment and death, the historical records are there to substantiate my claims. The murder of WPA Leader Dr Walter Rodney was the high point of his murderous attacks on those who spoke up against him.
When the fraudulent Government came to an end in 1992 there were still aspects of that repression manifesting itself in insurrectionist attempts, noted action was the storming of the office of the president by armed gunmen. These and other subversive attacks which were meant to create fear and instability in the population was from time to time seen in Guyana.
So, in closing, the implication for the wider Caribbean, Guyana in particular, is that there must be the upholding of the rule of law, where leaders are elected by the people and must rule for the people. The rule of law must be upheld at all times, it is a closely guarded secret that we hold close to our breast. As someone rightly said, it is the magic formula for success and progress of any nation, saving this we will not be any better than Haiti.

Respectfully,
Neil Adams