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Two incidents I want to bring to the public’s attention

Mar 17, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
On February 11, two Brazilian citizens (not naturalized in Guyana but Brazilian nationals) Messrs. Dos Santos and De Andrade, were each granted bail in the sum of $600, 000 G for alleged illegal possession of arms and ammunition. It was a most curious decision. Magistrates as night follows day do not grant bail on such charges. It is almost certain they will refuse bail.
Let me make one strong point clear before I proceed with this magisterial decision. I support bail in all cases, including murder and drug trafficking. Unless there is unquestionable evidence that the accused would harm people or flee the jurisdiction, bail should be granted. In Guyana the magistrates are deluging the prisons with remanded accused. It is a horrible violation of justice and should be stopped
We had the spectacle last week of Magistrate Lutchman informing the defence lawyer that he can apply to the High Court for bail after she refused Alana Taylor’s application. In other words she was saying; “I cannot grant it so you could seek another avenue.” But she has the power to do it.
This officer of the court has literally insulted the judicial system with this exclamation; “You can apply to the High Court.” We will wait to see what will be the response to my letter to the Chancellor on an investigation of this magistrate. The research is complete. I will forward the missive on Tuesday to his office
Back to Ms. Beharry. Why did she break with her own tradition and grant bail to two foreigners?
The other incident occurred on the High Court corridor on Friday afternoon. I was rushing up Judge Reynolds’ steps like mad because I was late for the Jagdeo-Kissoon libel trial. Ralph Ramkarran was on the corridor, speaking to Dr Jabour, and said to me, “Freddie, I see you criticizing me all the time, when you gun stop.”
I was so late that I couldn’t stop to reply. I rushed like down the steps madly because the court room was empty and I thought it was assigned to another court. As I came down, Ramkarran repeated his exclamation. There was no time to talk to Mr. Ramkarran. Here is my reply and I hope he reads it
Obviously he was referring to my column last week in which I wondered aloud why he and Henry Jeffrey are writing so much about the wrongs the PPP Government is doing but absolutely refused so far to tell us about their experience with this government when Ramkarran served the PPP for 50 years and Jeffrey served the Cabinet for 18 years
Why is Mr. Ramkarran so disinclined to talk about what happened at that meeting in which it was alleged that he was grossly insulted and he walked out and subsequently resigned? I believe given his candid columns in the Stabroek News, he has an obligation to tell the Guyanese people what happened.
In any other country, a heavyweight in the ruling party like Mr. Ramkarran would have explained to the nation what happened. But even if Mr. Ramkarran does not want to name names, a broad outline of what transpired should be published
What I am doing now is calling upon Mr. Ramkarran to answer two questions. Was the elevation of Mr. Ramotar to the presidential candidacy a democratic process and if it was, then how did he lose out – did he withdraw or was outmanoeuvred?
Secondly, what happened in that room when the PPP’s executives met to discuss his anti-corruption column? If Mr. Ramkarran refuses to answer then the nation must judge him harshly
Frederick Kissoon

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