Allegations against govt functionaries cannot be swept under the carpet

Allegations against govt functionaries cannot be swept under the carpet – GTUC

Apr 20, 2011 News

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) believes that a simple denial by Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee will not bring to closure, the recent allegations by a Guyanese man who has now been granted asylum in Canada.
The man, an Information Technology (IT) worker, and his wife were reportedly forced to flee and seek asylum in Canada, claiming that their lives were threatened by persons acting in the name of the state, after he allegedly refused a request for him to commit illegal acts against persons and institutions opposed to the government.
A Canadian court was told that the Guyanese man was offered money by the Minister in the presence of a senior police official and a known hitman to hack into the email accounts of opposition figures.
It was also alleged that when he declined to carry out the request, his wife was kidnapped and taken to a popular Kitty establishment where she was threatened with rape, unless she convinced her husband to change his mind.
The Minister has since categorically denied the allegations and has promised to issue a detailed statement on the matter.
But according to the GTUC, the allegations revealed in the Canadian court are certainly not to be taken lightly.
“This is a very serious charge brought against a Minister of state and of whom the portfolio of the security of this nation and citizens falls under.
Further, this is not the first time this ministry is embroiled in such damming allegations of misusing the office of the state to carry out illegal acts against the citizens,” GTUC stated in a press release yesterday.
According to the trade union body, under former Minister Ronald Gajraj, similar charges of illegality were made and exposed by whistleblower, the late George Bacchus.
“Six years later, this nation is again hit with another scandal by this same ministry, only now under the stewardship of Minister Rohee.”
The GTUC said that these allegations against government functionaries operating on behalf of the state cannot be swept under the carpet by puerile denial by Minister Rohee, or flippancy as in the case of Minister Gajraj, regarding his association with the late suspected hit-man Axel Williams, who told this nation, via Stabroek News on 15/4/2005, that ‘I would do it again if necessary.’
The fact that the Canadian authority believed the story of the IT worker makes these allegations serious enough for the Government of Guyana, if it is truly committed to the security of the citizenry, to have an impartial and transparent investigation into this matter, since it borders on the matter of security to persons and properties by a state official who has allegedly enlisted extra judicial means to violate privacy and security, the GTUC said.
The Trades Union umbrella body said that it is unacceptable for officials holding office, being paid by the people to serve them consistent with the laws, to turn around and engage in illegal acts against them. “This new allegation must not be taken lightly given the fact that this ministry is tasked the responsibility of giving policy direction to ensure the safety and security of citizens and institutions.”
In any democracy, the GTUC explained, the opposition is allowed to operate alongside government and if the Guyana government is intolerant of such existence then it confirms its contempt for democratic values.
It added that any refusal by the government to investigate and arrive at the truth of this matter will confirm the held opinion that the government has declared war on the citizens and workers of this country.
“We are living in dangerous times and this open contempt for the law by those entrusted the responsibility to govern consistent with the laws is sending ominous signals to law abiding citizens and international community and poses serious threats to development.
Citizens are becoming wary and losing confidence in the state’s ability to protect them. Too many workers are living in fear or being forced to flee this land because of the government failure to guarantee their fundamental right to security which continues to rob this nation of valued human resources needed for development,” the GTUC stated.

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Allegations against govt functionaries cannot be swept under the carpet – GTUC

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