However, when the PNC/Reform chose the opening session of the Third Caribbean-UK Forum to mount a protest with anti-government placards alleging, among other things, corruption and police brutality, it is understandable why the governing PPP/Civic has reacted with the claim of its opponents seeking to "tarnish" the image of Guyana for narrow political objectives.

Corruption allegations against a government have become a norm across the region by parties when in opposition. Regrettably, such allegations are frequently unaccompanied by credible evidence.

The PNC/Reform's refrain on "discrimination", for example, can best be addressed at the level of the dialogue process. But the party has opted to suspend its involvement in such a process and boycotted the debate on the 2002 Budget, that could have been a most appropriate occasion to air specific concerns and produce the evidence it claims to have in support of its allegations against good governance.

What perhaps turned out to be a bad timing and wrong occasion in one particular aspect of the anti-government placards protest, was the complaint, for the benefit of visiting delegates, about "police brutality".

This at a time when not just the Guyana Police Force but across the country there remained in shock and grief over the murder of the courageous and dedicated police officer, Superintendent Leon Fraser. This was in poor taste.

Police Brutality
Official delegations from a number of Caribbean states would have been familiar with some of the allegations in their own jurisdiction, as expressed by their domestic opponents. What did the PNC/Reform hope to achieve by its claim of police brutality as it greeted the visiting delegates?

Was it to bring into disrepute the integrity of the Guyana Police Force at a time of rampant criminality in the country? Members of the Force have been working virtually round the clock to combat escalating violent crime and in particular, to capture the group of armed and dangerous criminals who murdered a prison officer and critically wounded another in their escape from the Georgetown Prison.

Now, these same criminal elements, who the police feel are being assisted by collaborators, have been linked to the shooting death of Superintendent Fraser for whom there seems to be a love-hate relationship, depending on whether the respondents are on the side of law and order or prefer to be identified among those who associate the slain officer with strong arm tactics and, worse, alleged extra-judicial killings.

The so-called `talk show’ television hosts who have been extending their politics of hate and advocacy of disorder to personal attacks on the Police Force, from the very top and callously identifying by name for attacks, may perhaps be quietly celebrating the murder of Fraser.

Such is the degeneration of our political culture. Do not forget the draping of the coffin of the notorious criminal 'Blackie' in 1999 with the nation's flag, the Golden Arrowhead, when some who should know better contributed to giving him 'hero' status.

Is there going to be no let up in the kind of negative politicking that succeeds only in fortifying social divisions and retard progress?

We think that the PNC/Reform owes it to its own mass-based support and the country's future in resuming the dialogue with the PPP/Civic. And it is to be expected that the governing party will bring a more positive and matured attitude to the dialogue in order to resolve the more pressing and significant issues.