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President Ali should determine whether Ramson should be sacked for non-performance – Jagdeo
Kaieteur News- Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo said President Irfaan Ali should assess whether Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson, SC, should be fired for failing to carry out his duties, even as he attempted to question the aim of the organised picketing exercise.
For three consecutive weeks, Guyanese protested Ramson’s office, decrying his non-performance. They contend that the commissioner, whose office has a $40 million annual budget, has failed to perform his duties prescribed by Guyana’s Access to Information Act (2011).
A section of protestors that gathered outside the Office of Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson SC
“In Guyana, people have a freedom to protest. So, whether I agree with it or not is not germane here. They have the right to protest. Now they may have a cause, individuals may have a cause, but when I look at some of the people who are protesting there, it’s the same group of negative people against the government,” he told Kaieteur News at his press conference, last Thursday.
He noted the Red Thread, as an example, as he explained that the president should determine whether Ramson should be fired.
“I think the Office of the President would have to examine this, but knowing that group, that’s the same group that transitioned from the Gas-to-Energy project that tomorrow will go and protest some women’s rights issue, but only if it involves a PPP official; would turn a blind eye to all the transgressions happening against women once it doesn’t involve some PPP official wherever in the country somewhere. They are intensely political and I think they just want to create this air that the government is not being open.”
Individuals and groups such as Red Thread, Guyana Press Association (GPA), Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the General Workers Union, Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI) and several others have been calling for Ramson to resign or for President Ali to terminate his appointment.
It was President of the General Workers Union, Norris Witter who urged, “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.
Citizens on the picket line shared their experiences attempting to access information from the commissioner. They cited his failure to publish annual reports in the National Assembly as required by the legislation. Despite highlighting this over the past month, the government still appears to have doubts surrounding Ramson’s performance.
International Lawyer, Melinda Janki has already noted that there is enough grounds for the commissioner to be disqualified from office.
Meanwhile, attorney Christopher Ram who organised the three-week protest, said his eight attempts to access information from the commissioner have all failed.
Ram explained that the next step will be to write President Ali, seeking a meeting to discuss their concerns. Beyond that, the lawyer is prepared to take the matter to court and inform the regional and international community. He said those bodies have been misled and lied to by the government about the workings of the Access to Information Act.
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