PPP concerned about ongoing ‘witch-hunt’— Rohee

Jul 25, 2015 News

By Shyon Hoppie
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has once again raised concerns about an alleged “ongoing witch-hunt being carried out by the APNU+AFC”. This witch-hunt is almost on a daily basis, according to General Secretary, Clement Rohee.
He stated that professionals are being arbitrarily dismissed or sent on protracted administrative leave, with no proper reason given.
According to the General Secretary, the “de facto Government” is targeting PPP supporters in high position. This is a “witch-hunt” of qualified persons, he added.
However, no sooner than he had made such an accusation that the administration uncovered blatant fraud by the very professionals Rohee was defending. One of them transferred $27.8M to his personal account while another transferred some $980,000 to his own account.
These two professionals signed and countersigned the payment vouchers for each other. Rohee has been silent on these revelations.
The PPP noted what it said were the latest attacks on professionals by the APNU+AFC government with the sending on administrative leave as of last week, the Project Manager of the E-Governance Project, Alexei Ramotar and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Mr. Leslie Cadogan.
What is most alarming, Rohee said, is the that Mr. Ramotar was sent on leave in the middle of a forensic audit of the E-Governance project, even after he publicly declared that he is cooperating with the forensic auditors and more so, he is the ideal person to answer all questions relating to the financial transactions and activities of the project.
This very declaration by Alexei Ramotar is a clear indication that this audit is nothing but a sham to get at professionals who are supporters of the PPP and at the same time discredit the transformational projects the PPP had embarked on while in government, Rohee added.
“The APNU+AFC government certainly found itself in a tight spot, having publicly criticized the many transformational projects while in opposition, it is now a natural expectation of their supporters for them to match words with action, which essentially, they have no choice but to dismantle these projects and programmes, despite their usefulness in the economic development of Guyana,” according to the PPP.
Rohee listed the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project as one of these many projects.
He further stated, “The APNU+AFC launched an onslaught on that project while in opposition and despite an admission by Mr. Granger that renewable energy is critical to Guyana’s development; they had to discredit the initiative, in order to cover up their hypocrisy.”
The APNU+AFC government is not concerned about the competency of professionals, but rather concerned with getting rid of PPP supporters, Rohee said.
Alexei Ramotar is said to be the most qualified to run that project according to the opposition and yet the government is sparing no efforts to get rid of him the General Secretary lamented.
In the case of Leslie Cadogan, he was sent on leave, as part of what the government said is a restructuring of that Ministry. Cadogan has been in that position for many years and is best positioned to help with any restructuring of that Ministry according to PPP. He has been essentially the Chief Executive Officer of that Ministry and is most knowledgeable of its workings, Rohee said.
Additionally, the PPP noted that efforts by the Hamilton Green- led City Council to go after former Town clerk Carol Sooba, who during her tenure exposed the massive corruption and inefficiencies at that Council, was another example of their claims.
“Having locked Sooba out of her office and arbitrarily dismissed her, Green and his acolytes have now heightened their ‘Get Sooba’ campaign.”
Contrary to President Granger’s claim that “I am no monster” and that “I am not here to take bread out of any body’s mouth”, this is exactly what he is doing said the General Secretary.
The Opposition is convinced that the Granger-led Administration is trampling on the basic human rights of the professionals and regardless of their political persuasion they have the right to work.
The party repeats its call for the human rights activists to make their voices heard and to call into account the actions of the government.
The PPP wishes to assure those who have suffered at the hands of this “creeping dictatorship” that it will remain resolute in the fight to ensure that justice prevails.

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