The Govt. appears to be insensitive to the genuine concerns of the people

Sep 29, 2009 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Guyana has within the last few months experienced a dangerous level of executive insensitivity, stubbornness and downright stupidity.
Permit me to illustrate my point by referring to three recent instances. The first has to do with the President’s remarks regarding confessed drug cartel Saheed Roger Khan.
When asked about Roger Khan, President Jagdeo stated that he does not know the man. A name as notoriously known as Roger Khan that every young child in Guyana has on the tip of his/her lips, the President does not know.
Its either the President is playing the fool or is oblivious to what is happening in the country. The question then becomes how can he govern in a society in which he is far removed from the realities?
Just to remind us, it was the same Roger Khan who had a full page add in the local media a few years ago where he claimed to have been working to help the government of Guyana, i.e., the government that Mr. Jagdeo currently heads, the President nor government did not question the advertisement.
The second example I wish to refer to is in relation to the letter which circulated a few weeks ago, after it was admitted in a court of law as the letter sent to authorise the purchase of the spy equipment, later found in Roger Khan’s possession. The letter bears the Ministry of Health letter head with a signature attached purported to be that of the Health Minister, whose name is printed beneath the signature.
With the surfacing of this letter citizens demanded that the Minister resign and allow for an investigation, but the Minister, like he did earlier, rebuffed the call and claim that he does not know anything about the letter and that the signature is not his. Before this letter, the said Minister was named by the U.S witness, in the Roger Khan saga, Selwyn Vaughn, and Roger Khan’s now convicted lawyer, Robert Simels as having connection with Roger Khan and his activities. In addition to Ramsammy’s denial the President backs him up by stating that if he, Jagdeo, is to act on every letter claimed to be written by a minister then he will not be left without a cabinet.
Are these people serious, or do they believe Guyanese to be so docile that they can “shove anything down we throat”! The government appears to be so insensitive to the genuine concerns and pain of the people that they seem comfortable or satisfied when they attempt to discredit our sense of worth and reasoning.
Their simple, logic, approach to responding to concerns of citizens only make the administration appear even more backward and undemocratic.
The average person would assume that at least the President would recommend that his Minister remove himself from office until he is cleared. Or maybe, Ramsammy should submit himself to a lie detector test, as this seem to be the new way of dismissing public servants, but then he might pass the test as the main “test question” has to do with whether or not you are loyal to the government.
In a situation where a hand writing expert and the police can be called in the President is making it appear as if this is a matter for rocket scientists.
Now, come to deal with the infamous “tape” where it is alleged that Kwame was engaged in a conversation where he appears to have been soliciting sex from a minor. As the people call for Kwame to resign from the Rights of the Child Commission, Kwame claims the voice is not his and the Minister responsible for him being on the commission claims she cannot act since she did not hear the tape. According to her she is awaiting confirmation on voice on the tape, since the accused claimed it is not his.
What foolishness, Ms. Manickchand is about one of the few Ministers of government whom I had some kind of confidence in, but within recent times her credibility has been called into serious questioning.
I believe her stance on this matter is purely political, inimical and lacks that basic human concern, her response here, reminds me of her comment on the Former First Lady, Varshine Jagdeo’s, domestic abuse claims.
The Minister must know that in any situation where a child is claimed to be involved in a dangerous situation or where the welfare of the child is alleged to be in jeopardy, every effort must be made to ensure that the rights or welfare of the child is protected.
To have a person accused of committing such a serious crime against a child still serving as a commissioner on a committee aimed at protecting the rights of children is out of sync with common reasoning, basic morality, and decency.
To have the voice determine while the accused still remain in his offices may very well constitute a breach of that impartiality, the case demands.
The argument here is not whether or not it is Kwame’s voice, but rather the nature of the accusation and the offices held by the accused. I am disappointed that Kwame, himself did not do the morally correct thing and resign until his name is cleared.
Why this level of deep insensitivity and “political grass hopping”. The real victim here is assumed to be a child not the accused so the “concerted pity party must stop”.
The Minister must act, and ask Kwame to remove himself from the commission, lest the commission itself becomes more tainted.
I wonder if Kwame sits on the education committee of Region Four, if he does he must also recluse himself from this committee, until he is cleared.
It is as simple as that, stop the bully boy attitude and be humble about the situation, you are innocent until proven guilty, and if you have nothing to fear ask that the police investigate the matter and let this matter be dealt with expeditiously.
Lurlene Nestor

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