The honorable Minister of Health is riding on cloud nine

Jun 30, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Being a Minster has made me poorer – Dr. Ramsammy.
This headline in the Kaieteur News of Sunday June 14, 2009 caught my attention, where it stated that at a press conference in responding to calls to submit his resignation, he made some eye-popping revelations, which are still baffling me.
Behold! An honorable man said a voice inside me. This senior Ministry of Health informed the media that (a): he does not need to be a minister of the government, but is only here because his service is required. (b) That not a day has passed in the last three years that he has not had an offer from international agencies for “big appointments” and has refused, even when they offer to pay him a hundred times more than what he is presently earning! (c) That 15 years ago when he came back, he took a salary less than five percent of what he was earning! And what he is earning today is 10% of what he can earn in the USA. (d) That he owns no house, because he cannot afford to pay for a house lot much less construct a house! Does not own a car and will not be able to buy one when he leaves his government. Office. (e) That his son, who is a doctor, still owes over one million (US) dollars for his education. (f) Have never had a family vacation since he came back home, because, “my family and I cannot afford to do so. I am poorer today because I am a minister”.
Well, well, what a gentleman! Mr. Editor I don’t doubt for one minute that there are professionals and other technocrats who are filthy rich, who earn money as if going out of style, way beyond what some ministers can ever hope to dream about.

But still this honorable gentleman, in the light of the scheme of things is offering us a pill too large to swallow. There are some things in the psyche of a nation/people as regards events, status and behaviour etc., personalities whose characteristics have been indelibly etched in their minds, and this, because of actions/observations overtime.
An example: if say, the Buxton sage Eusi_Kwayana had made such revelations to the media no one would have raised a brow. I recall some years ago, a certain gentleman who was working out a scheme for himself, upon being cautioned, remarked “wha yu tek me fuh, I is nah brother Eusi,” in the same vein; upon discussing this Ramsammy declaration, evoked this sardonic remark after a long suck teeth, “leh Ramsammy geh me a break”, see?
This Ramsammy stand, judging from the behaviour and material worth of most of today’s politicians does seems a bit incongruous – if one can say so, and if found to be accurate could be further construe as political integrity and patriotism at its best – a most desirable virtue, which the populace would most welcome with spreading arms.

If only a modicum of such actions can be found in at least just a few more – (to be practical), then indeed that would be the hall mark of a true servant of the people.
But this is what boggles the mind: if this senior Minister is struggling to make it here in his dear land with the salary that he is earning that has made him poorer, how are, not only his fellow ministers, but those junior ministers and lesser officials who can’t manage to keep what they have in the shades managing.
Does not this stern revelation behoove the honorable gentleman, a moralist to be an advocate for increase wages for the working class? Come on Sir! After such a revelation you need to call on the President.
We will be so much richer if only we could seek out and appoint ministers, the likes of Dr Ramsammy – such an honorable man. And even though he has thrown out the challenge for anyone to do a forensic audit, I am willing to bet pennies to pins that this honorable gentleman is riding on cloud nine. This is just not our style – least of all our ministers of Government. Bye bye.
Frank Fyffe