Jesuit priest Fr Malcolm Rodrigues does not think the authorities should negotiate with criminal gangs. He does, however, feel very strongly that there is an urgent need to engage those elements within the society who are supportive of what they see as groups striking out for their rights to be heard.

The former university lecturer related an encounter he had with a group of young people two years ago. He realised through speaking with them that they felt they were not being represented at a political level and had no future in Guyana. At the same time he said these youths can’t emigrate since they do not have the resources, financial and otherwise.

“There is therefore the danger that they would fall into the ranks of active gangs or be dragged into some form of hit and run politics. That is why there is a need to engage these youths now before this happens,” he said.

Fr Malcolm Rodrigues, SJ

Fr Rodrigues, who also served as deputy vice chancellor of the University of Guyana, went on to say that the danger of labelling people terrorists, bandits or criminals is that you virtually put them in a position where you cannot sit down and dialogue with them.

He pointed out however that if direct contact with some of those who feel alienated is not possible, then there are many “who know them, who are close to and sympathetic to them”, who can act as intermediaries.

These intermediaries would discover whether it is politics, economics, social circumstances or governance issues that are making so many within our society feel so marginalised.

He stated that those who feel disaffected should nominate whom they would like to speak on their behalf.

The government on the other hand should not meet with them alone but should also involve the parliamentary opposition, the private sector, trade unions, religious bodies and non-governmental organisations, and approach the problem on a broad, national basis since it is a national problem.

“If you do that and you really engage in constructive dialogue you might well release the energies of other people who are packing their bags to leave the country.

In this way you have an opportunity to engage those who might well step in and fill any breach in the criminal gangs. Secondly you are creating a national body which will release energies and encourage others to make their contribution especially if they feel the initiative can move forward.”

He noted that today the American government is negotiating with the same people just a few years ago it referred to as integral parts of an “axis of evil.” “They have now realised that they have no alternative. In a similar way in present day Guyana the authorities need to engage all sections of society especially those who feel unrepresented”.

“We are witnesses to God’s love and God’s truth and that has to be translated into concrete terms. The concrete people we deal with are these people and we have to show the real love, which is concern for their being and affirming who they are.

Giving that space to them that they may discover that in fact they have a value and appreciate that value,” Fr Rodrigues concluded. - edited from Catholic Standard