‘If the President’s award means anything, he would terminate Ramson’- Protestors

Apr 05, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News- The protest against the failure of Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson SC to fulfill his constitutional duties, in accordance with the Access to Information Act (2011) on Friday continued in front of his East Street, Georgetown office, with some protestors again calling on President Irfaan Ali to terminate Ramson’s appointment.

This week’s protest continued from last week and saw the support of additional individuals and organizations, including the President Guyana Press Association (GPA), Nazima Raghubir; Trades Union Congress President, Co-President, Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), President of the General Workers Union, Norris Witter; Mike Singh, President of Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI) and several others. Members from the international press were also observed interacting with protestors yesterday.

Witter who held the GHRA banner alongside his colleague, Mike McCormack told Kaieteur News that Ramson holds a Constitutional Office and is expected to dispense his duties in a particular way- disseminating information to those who request it.

To this end, he noted, “I read yesterday that the President received a Global award. I wish to suggest if that award means anything to him, he will terminate the services of Mr. Ramson forthwith because Mr. Ramson was appointed by him.” To date, Witter noted that Ramson has “failed miserably” to perform his duties, a fact that the Head-of-State should be aware of by now.

Mike McCormack, another Co-President of the GHRA said he was concerned about the lack of activity by the Commissioner. He was keen to note, “Reliable information is a vital part of healthy governance and too many official decisions and the reasons for them can’t be found and far too many of the people in public office make no attempt to redress that problem of explaining what their office is doing.”

With the protest now into its second week, government has not issued a statement of public comment on the issue. McCormack said this was the typical behaviour of the government as leaders feel more condemned to respond to “funding organizations” or foreign businesses rather than its own citizens. Consequently, he said, “The fact that we’re out here, reduced to complaining about the absence of information, is a reflection of a generalized problem to whom the government feels its accountable to and it doesn’t feel it is accountable to ordinary citizens.”

Former Prime Minister and Mayor of Georgetown, 91-year-old Hamilton Green also joined Friday’s protest. In a brief comment, he told Kaieteur News, “There’s a fracturing of what’s supposed to be a democratic government. You cannot establish a Commission which was done by law and then you have the person in charge refusing in the most inappropriate manner to supply basic information.” Green said this was not only “absurd” but “unacceptable”.

Meanwhile, the organizer of the picket, Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram argued that both government and Ramson have so far demonstrated arrogance that is deeply troubling for democracy, transparency, accountability and anti-corruption drives.

The lawyer added that he was heartened to see many more Guyanese join the activity. He said he is hopeful that President Ali who holds responsibility for the Access to Information Act would discharge his Presidential obligation to ensure the law is enacted. In the meantime, Ram is willing to take other steps to ensure the Act is complied with. This includes highlighting these concerns to the Diplomatic and foreign community. According to Ram, “This government needs to be identified for its disregard and contempt for democracy.”

GPA President, Nazima Raghubir while holding a placard explained that the body was approached by members of civil society to join the activity. Following positive feedback from its Executive Members, the GPA gave its support.

She said, “We have not been able to use the Act. It was passed in 2011 and it seems as though it was passed to pacify or to tick boxes by the emperor. There were two pieces of legislation passed at that time, Access to Information and Broadcast legislation.”

Raghubir pointed out that the media was not consulted on the laws, as she highlighted a Report by the Media Institute of the Caribbean published late last year that underlines the need for reform to the Freedom of Information Act.

A Red Thread representative in a brief comment told this newspaper that she believes access to information is a constitutional right. Further, she argued that citizens should not be forced to protest for information that should be made available freely to the public.

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