Latest update September 24th, 2026 10:31 AM
Pres. Ali disrespecting Guyanese by denying access to information – Ram
Attorney-at-Law Chris Ram among protestors on Friday infront of the Office of the President.
Kaieteur News – Chartered accountant and attorney, Christopher Ram said it is insulting and disrespectful of President Irfaan Ali to deny Guyanese the constitutional right to access information.
Ram, who has been advocating for the release of information by Commissioner of Information, Justice (Ret’d) Charles Ramson Snr, led a peaceful protest outside the office of the president on Friday.
During the protest, Ram told Kaieteur News that he had written the head-of-state asking him to meet with a small group of civil society members to discuss their concerns. However, according to Ram, the president has not had the ‘decency to acknowledged the request.’
… “And he has forced us into this position, I don’t know what the president has to hide or if he sees this as some manly thing to do to deny people the constitutional right to access information, it is insulting, it is disrespectful and he is violating his constitutional oath,” he lamented.
Ram said it is unreasonable that citizens have to go through this to access information.
“In addition, he has got this man, Charles Ramson in a position, he just would not do anything. The president is the person responsible for information, he is responsible for the Access to Information Act and he simply refuses to do his job. This is not about ribbon cutting, this is about governance of our country,” he asserted.
Ram said the protest will continue each week until the matter is addressed.
Citizens, civil society advocates, and trade union representatives on Friday protesting infront of the Office of the President calling for the President to ensure the duties of Commissioner of Information Mr. Charles Ramson (Snr) is executed.
Meanwhile, speaking with Kaieteur News, president of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Norris Witter said citizens want the president to act, since it is the head-of-state who swore in the commissioner of information.
He said for the president to not act and ensure that Ramson carries out his duties would give meaning to his constitutional office. According to him, it is not only a dereliction of duty but it also questions his suitability for the office of president.
“This matter has serious implications for democracy and the democratic process… As the constitutional office holder of president, he has an obligation to respect the rule of law, he has an obligation to respect all statutory laws, he has an obligation to respect international conventions, and for Mr. Ali as the president to fail to demand of the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Charles Ramson to carry out his duties as enshrined in the law, Mr. Ali is just as complicit as Mr. Charles Ramson,” Witter explained.
Ram has been leading protests against the commissioner of information since early April, demanding that Access to Information Act, 2011 be “operationalised as it should be” and for the legislation to be subject to review and amendment, after more than a decade.
Ram said over the years, he, along with former president of Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. (TIGI), Frederick Collins, former Auditor General (AG), Anand Goolsarran, and transparency advocate, Alfred Bhulai, have all tried to obtain information through the office of the commission of information.
The attorney said Ramson has been playing games with applicants, putting his own interpretation of the Access to Information Act.”
He said the Act has therefore failed to achieve its intended goal, despite the office receiving $40 million per year. Ram also highlighted that there has never been a single report tabled in Parliament, as required by the Act.
Ram’s frustration has led him to the high court, filing applications at least two times so far, seeking. His latest action was taken late June where he filed a second application to the high court seeking a declaration that the commissioner is a public authority within the meaning of the Act; a ruling that his failure to respond constitutes a deemed refusal under section 18(3); a finding that he has breached section 23 by failing to provide the required notice or reasons; a mandatory order compelling the release of the requested information within 14 days; and costs together with such further relief as the court may consider just.
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- Charles Ramson snr, Christopher Ram, Civil society advocates, Denying Information, President Irfaan Ali
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