Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, a prominent US House Democrat from New York, said that at a meeting with Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton and his group in Washington last week, they talked about a fair and equal society in Guyana.
According to a post on his Facebook page, on September 27, Jeffries arranged a meeting with Norton and members of the parliamentary opposition.
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The Caribbean-American community in Brooklyn and across the United States, along with several prominent congressional Democrats with knowledge of foreign policy, economics, security, and other crucial issues affecting the Western Hemisphere, joined the two sides for this crucial and timely discussion, according to Jeffries.
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of the United States, who serves as the chair of the Democratic Caucus in the US House of Representatives, has once again criticized the Guyana Government for what he perceives as the “mistreatment” of a particular segment of the Guyanese community.
Congressman Jeffries said in remarks made at the Guyana Day Church Service in New York this past weekend that the US will continue to strongly support Guyanese residing in the US, particularly those who are residents of Guyana.
The Congress noted, “We will continue to stand strongly behind Guyanese Americans, the SDA community, and certainly the folks back home in Guyana living right now in very difficult circumstances. A government that has consistently not treated everyone consistent with the principles of equal protection under the law.”
Over the weekend, the US representative repeated what he had said.
And we are not going to allow racism here, he continued, adding that “we will do everything we can to move things in a better, more equitable way.”
The PPP, which claimed to be acting in the best interests of all Guyanese, urged the Congressman last year to “desist from partnering with these persons in causing turmoil in our communities at home and in the Diaspora.”
He noted, “And we are not going to tolerate racism here, we are not going to tolerate racism down in Guyana either and we will do all we can to get things moving in a fairer, more equitable digression.”
The PPP, which claimed to be acting in the best interests of all Guyanese, urged the Congressman last year to “desist from joining with these individuals in creating chaos in our communities at home and in the Diaspora.”
NYC- End Solitary Confinement in Jail Says Public Advocate
A rally was recently held to urge the City Council and Mayor to adopt Intro. No. 549, a law intended to eliminate solitary confinement in New York City jails, together with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Councilmembers, survivors of solitary confinement, and family members.
With Manish Kunwar, a 27-year-old with mental health concerns, reportedly dying at Rikers Island, the need for reform is now more pressing than ever. This is the seventh such fatality this year in municipal prisons.
There is a majority that may override vetoes, and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams supports Intro. No. 549. If approved, the measure will outlaw solitary confinement and encourage different kinds of segregation that are better for prisoners’ health and well-being.
William noted, “The status quo is not working,” he added, “The status quo did not work for Layleen Polanco. It did not work for the person who died today. Let’s get it done now. So we can save some lives.”
Several members of the City Council spoke out in favor of the legislation, describing solitary confinement as a type of torture that conflicts with the city’s objectives for criminal justice. The necessity for a complete ecosystem of social supports, mental health services, and treatment for drug use disorders was underlined by Councilmember Carlin Rivera (D—Lower Manhattan).
Councilmember Shahana Hanif noted, “The consensus is clear among faiths and countries across the world: Solitary confinement is torture, and every day our city allows this practice is a grave sin.”
“We have the legislation to end this torturous practice, and we have the votes to pass it; all we need is Intro 549 to come to a vote.”
Family members and survivors expressed grave worries. Mauricia Harry, whose brother had previously served time in isolation, made the observation that even when an inmate does not initially have a mental health problem, they frequently develop one while there.
Victor Pate, co-director of the #HALTsolitary Campaign described the situation as a “travesty”. He noted, “We are talking about human rights and constitutional rights. No one should be treated inhumanely. No one should be subject to torture. Just because you are incarcerated doesn’t mean you can be treated like an animal. So why are our people being treated inhumanely and being exposed to torture in solitary confinement?”
The entire federal House delegation from New York City as well as 74 state legislators support the bill, which has broad popular and political support. A nationwide poll found that support for abolishing solitary confinement cut across party lines by a margin of 32 points.
According to research, even a brief period of isolation can result in dramatically increased chances of many types of injury, including death. The murders of people like Kalief Browder and Layleen Polanco in recent years have sparked a public uproar against the usage of solitary confinement and brought attention to its terrible consequences.
