The Matthews Ridge drug bust
Dear Editor,
We heard the statement by the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs and of course, following the script raised by the President and others, noteworthy his involvement with the US Drug Enforcement Agency.
Dear Editor, when the manganese company closed their operations claiming that they were mining in a cone, that is, as they dug deeper, there was less and less manganese. Those of us in Government at the time had our doubts. Burnham sent me in with a team to the area to persuade Guyanese Mine workers to become farmers. This effort was unsuccessful.
However, as a result, I became familiar with this part of the North-west, and from information received, this airstrip and the massive amount of cocaine found, could not be more than 4-7 miles, as the crow flies, from the community of Matthews Ridge. Was the airstrip built by hand? I am also aware that a friendly state for a few months had stationed a well armed and equipped battalion in the face of threats from our western neighbour.
Then there is the tragedy of Jim Jones and his community further away from this area. With limited resources. Instructions were given to overfly this area periodically. With modern surveillance equipment and no shortage of money, it is preposterous, unacceptable and unbelievable that this operation could have been conducted undetected.
Guyanese including PPP supporters must demand the truth, that is, if the powers that be, understand what truth is. I am told that a senior police officer has been replaced. I have no way of confirming if this is the case, but I believe the President, the General Secretary of the PPP, the top brass of our security forces must say. Why it is. We apparently had to rely on the United States.
The truth and the whole truth will point to either complicity, carelessness or incompetence. For who knows, this may be the tip of the iceberg. My only comment is the establishment must stop treating us the people as idiots. Incidentally, we must note with interest that the Minister had stated that these pits were dug by hand. At the next Press Conference, we should be told how we arrive at this conclusion.
Hamilton Green
Elder
