Dear Editor,
I write to express deep concern over what appears to be an ongoing attempt by the Government of Guyana to stifle the fundamental rights of Mr. Azruddin Mohamed, a Guyanese citizen who, like all others, is entitled to the full protection of our Constitution.
Guyana’s Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms, including personal liberty, protection of the law, due process, and access to the courts. These rights are not privileges granted at the convenience of the State; they are safeguards meant to protect every citizen, especially when the power of the State is brought to bear against an individual.
In Mr. Mohamed’s case, there is growing public concern that legal processes are being rushed, selectively applied, or influenced by external pressure, rather than being guided strictly by constitutional principles and fairness. The refusal to meaningfully entertain constitutional challenges, coupled with legislative and procedural actions that appear to weaken judicial scrutiny, raises troubling questions about whether due process is being fully respected.
Even where international obligations exist, they should never override the Constitution or justify the erosion of a citizen’s fundamental rights. The rule of law demands that every individual be treated equally, without prejudice, political motivation, or public pressure influencing judicial and executive actions.
This matter goes beyond one individual. If the rights of Mr. Mohamed can be curtailed without full and transparent constitutional protection, then the rights of any Guyanese citizen may one day be similarly at risk. A democracy is measured not by how it treats the popular or the powerful, but by how it treats those facing the full force of the State.
I urge the government to reaffirm its commitment to constitutional supremacy, judicial independence, and due process, and to ensure that Mr. Mohamed’s fundamental rights are fully respected, without exception.