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Jagdeo’s pension plan ‘rattled my soul’ – Moses Nagamootoo
“To my utter shame and regret I voted for it, because I was required to do so as a PPP MP.”
The tension between the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and its former Executive Member Moses Nagamootoo seems to be escalating, with barbs being flung back and forth.
Nagamootoo fired back at his critics during a recent Alliance For Change press briefing, but in sticking to his decorum said that he would not seek to link any specific leader in the party to a particular allegation he has made against them but rather, “all are involved, all are consumed.”
He had only minutes before told media operatives that the decision he made to leave the PPP/C was one that did not happen overnight, and commenting on one of the issues that has been making its rounds in the campaign, Nagamootoo said that President Jagdeo’s pension plan had rattled his soul when he first addressed his mind to it.
Nagamootoo sought to express his position further when he said “but to my utter shame and regret I voted for it, because I was required to do so as a PPP MP.”
He said that when he forged an allegiance with the AFC he was exercising, as an independent citizen, his constitutional and democratic right to choose with whom to associate.
AFC member Moses Nagamootoo
“I had wanted to leave the PPP since 1998, when the process to destroy the party’s internal democracy had started. I didn’t do so then…I again wanted to resign between 2004 and 2006 when the leadership refused to investigate many of my complaints, including allegations of corruption, fraud at the Wildlife Department, illegal export of bottle-nose dolphins, phantom squad,” charged Nagamootoo.
“I became totally disgusted at the shameful greed of some of the leaders, who turned the state into a real estate agency and were helping themselves and their friends to prime properties, and were interested in globe-trotting and extravagance, whilst sugar workers, public servants and old people were living on starvation wages and pensions.”
To this end Nagamootoo said “One example suffices here…When I first saw the proposal, I had said that the “president’s pension plan” – in excess of thirty-six million dollars ( $36,000,000) annually – rattled my soul, but to my utter shame and regret I voted for it, because I was required to do so as a PPP MP.”
Office of the President had refuted claims by the AFC that the president’s pension plan amounts to roughly $3M monthly, but they have argued that if OP denies this position then it should present its calculations.
Nagamootoo also told media operatives that he had indicated that they (PPP members) were moving away from Cheddi Jagan and Ho Chi Ming’s principles of “revolutionary morality”, and that “we were becoming greedy and corrupt…No one in the leadership supported me.”
Nagamootoo says too that he had taken a stand on the issues before the scandal broke, and leaders’ names appeared in diplomatic cables to the United States Government on allegations of corruption and criminality.
“So, resigning from the PPP, was a burden that I have eventually shed, and I have felt relieved and at peace with myself since.”
The former PPP/C Executive member says that he has embraced the AFC with sincerety and passion.
“In it I have seen Guyana’s future…Here, in this AFC Family, are young leaders who have honest vision and serious ideas for Guyana’s development and progress.”
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26 thoughts on “Jagdeo’s pension plan ‘rattled my soul’ – Moses Nagamootoo”
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well said
The PPP is so shaken up at the resignation of Nagamootoo that they will continue to use anything that they can find to criticise him. Guyanese can forgive Nagamootoo on the hope and trust that when they get into power, they will repeal all these ridiculous laws incuding the President’s executive powers and the President’s immunity or else we will hold them accountable.
I still have trouble understanding – never accepting – how this pension plan passed.
Shouldn’t there be a whole set of decent, conscientious-minded people speaking out against this legislation? This bill was such an outrage – How on earth could a country with a per capita income of USD$2,500 afford a pension package for its retiring president comparable to that of the United States (per capita income $45,000)?
What was Leader of the Opposition Corbin’s role in this thing?
There are even worse outrages – Did president Jagdeo receive a 40-ton container gift valued $USD 100,000? If the paid for the container, why doesn’t he provide the proof of payment? Can elected office-holders accept gifts of this magnitude? Why doesn’t Corbin demand proof of payment? Corbin’s failure to champion this call for an investigation suggest his collusion and complicity? Leaders of Oppositon in parliament have constitutional duties to perform.
Mr Mike Persaud I like your opinion, I have the same and its why I give the leader of the opposition a 0 grade with the comment not fit for president. The people of this country is paying this man to preform the function of minority leader and the others as MP. We maintain a parliament building for them to function in, but we find them more on the streets calling out their supports for some of the most simplest of difference, why pay them if i have to hit the street protesting for everything.
Alas,an honest politician!!! I hope he is as genuine and as sincere as he comes across…
Who else wants to dispute the integrity of this true Guyanese patriot. Giving handouts seems like the going thing of the day. I wholeheartedly support Mr Nagamootoo.
This is a shame and disgrace for the entire nation(a global relegation).The entire world will now compare us to those countries and times when and where kings had 18 crt gold toilets,huge palaces and no less than 24 maids whilst the masses ate filth and literally killed each other to survive. Those of you who don’t like what you just read, read again the story of Mr. Nagamootoo.I agree with Mike Persaud in that Corbin probably will be getting an under the table percentage of that pension package. If he is not then its his fault in that his ineptness and reticence are lending tangible credence to this notion in all respects.
What MUST be noted here is that these actions as well as those that have not yet been brought to the fore WILL PROLIFERATE in a post election period should the PPP/C party return to rule(note not govern but rule).When it does, malfeasance, corruption and unfettered evil will pervade this nation in an unprecedented and unimaginable manner.
God forbid.
that is no excuse, you should have stayed away on the date of voting. I am wondering if you were selected as the PPP presidential would you have gone public with some of the ‘illegal’ dealing by BhaRAT and his corrupt pals?
Mr Moses Nagamootoo our country needs more persons lilke u to come forward and speak the truth before our country goes into exile,all is not lost it is not too late to correct the wrongs and the suffering that guyanese people endured, in a land over flowing with inexpendable wealth, will our heads of government pretty prance around “like mickey mouse”.The only action left to be taken is one of justice and equality for our nation to have a progressive future.
and so we now hear all the sad stories, the nepotism, the corruption .why werent we privy to this information before now??????//..is it a case of when the fox cant get the grapes he say it sour??????????
Oh please!!! Now he can say anything because he wants to be elected right? Well if the plan rattled his soul so much and he was a man with dignity who wants to do what is best for the nation, then why did he sign it? He did not care about anyone but himself, it is obvious! He expected to be the next PPP Candidate but when that did not happen, now he turns around and attacks them! Believe what you want my dears, but he seems VERY transparent to me that he is ONLY power hungry! choose wisely! be blessed
Like I said earlier , Jagdeo better prepared for leaving office because Uncle SAM waiting to have him extradicted . Many knows that including Rohee . They certainly wiill need a very good lawyer otherwise they’ll be having company ..Roger Khan . Oh by the way Gajraj is in India , but they’ll get him too . They all want to go to heaven , but wouldn’t die to get there .
JeffBurke
Are you an agent of the U.S.A? That’s the only way you canmake that statement?
Or are you a psychic?
Moses talking BS because he was selected to run for President for the PPP…if he was selected Guyana would not have heard all this…if it rattled his soul then, he should have spoken about it, what had he to loose? he already wanted to resign as he claims since 1996..his decision making process slow…with the AFC we will have to wait 15 years for a proper decision it seems
Where have we seen a GY politician admit “to my utter shame and regret” …….very telling Mr. Moses N. very enlightening indeed.
WHO’S NEXT?
it rattledevery body soul who are sober enough
MPs vote for the party and not for the constituents
moses you did the righe thing
POWER CORRUPT, AND ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPT ABSOLUTLY
Was a gun placed to your head Mr. Nagamootto? It is the correct thing to stand up for what is right..so if you thought that was wrong you should have stood up for what you believed in..even if you were the only one to do so.
Therefore I do not think that you saw it as something wrong at that time.
However, I must complement for taking such a step to release yourself from within that corrupt Party.
you should have resigned and exposed them since it happened
now you baring your soul why??
Bought and sold with U.S. and Canadian dollars. Foreign funded party. Money does not last forever.
It would be a good day when all of MPs start voting for what is right, (polocies and laws), and not along party lines. Then and only then Guyana will become a truely democratic society.
people of guyana, open your eyes and look around .every country is demanding a change. if this ppp /c executive member is speaking out. it is time for a change.
“but to my utter shame and regret I voted for it, because I was required to do so as a PPP MP.”
What don’t you people understand with this statement? Had the Guy exposed this to the public at that time, most of you could have called him a traitor. Unlike the ones who were born with a silver spoon, Mr. Nagamootoo is much more qualified to be the President of the country. Guyana needs a few more like him.
3M a month?