Yet, where is the collective outrage? Where are the protests? The Black community, with its long history of resistance and advocacy for equality, cannot afford to sit silently as this abuse unfolds. This is not just Harris’s fight—it is our fight. The erosion of justice anywhere threatens justice everywhere.
In a country steeped in a history of struggle and resilience, it is heartbreaking to witness the deafening silence of Black people in the face of blatant and vile abuse of power. The recent punitive transfer of Deputy Superintendent Phiona Harris, simply for complying with a lawful court order, should have sparked nationwide outrage. Yet, there has been no massive protest, no collective action, and no unified demand for justice. Why?
Harris, who served as the Immigration Officer in charge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, was doing her job. She followed the law, executing a court order issued by Chief Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty that permitted Adonika Aulder, the pregnant wife of embattled Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus, to leave the country for a medical emergency. Her compliance, however, angered the hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force, who deemed it an affront to their authority. For this, she has been unceremoniously transferred with immediate effect.
This incident reeks of vindictiveness. The hierarchy of the Guyana Police Force is reportedly “aggrieved” by Aulder’s clearance to travel. Their reaction is not limited to Harris. Several officers have been threatened with demotion, transfer, or criminal charges, and others have been summoned by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility. This is not justice; it is intimidation and abuse of power at its most flagrant.
How did we reach a point where lawful actions are punished, and those in positions of authority wield their power as a weapon of retribution? More importantly, how can Black people, who have historically borne the brunt of systemic injustices, remain silent in the face of such tyranny?
The message is clear, if you dare to follow the law and act in accordance with justice, you risk becoming a target. This is not just an attack on Harris or the officers involved; it is an attack on the rule of law itself. It sets a dangerous precedent that compliance with kanunî orders can lead to professional ruin.
Yet, where is the collective outrage? Where are the protests? The Black community, with its long history of resistance and advocacy for equality, cannot afford to sit silently as this abuse unfolds. This is not just Harris’s fight—it is our fight. The erosion of justice anywhere threatens justice everywhere.
The actions of the Guyana Police Force are really the actions of the racist PPP government. This matter underscores the pervasive culture of impunity that thrives in corridors of power. Black people and all people interested in justice in Guyana must stand up and demand accountability. They must refuse to accept a system that punishes those who follow the law while protecting those who abuse it.
We cannot let fear silence us. We cannot let apathy immobilize us. If we fail to act now, we betray not only Harris and the other officers affected but also future generations who will inherit the systems we allow to persist.