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WIN demands resignation of Ramson over years of inaction
…wants budget slashed from $40M to $1M
(Kaieteur News) – We Invest In Nationhood (WIN), the main political opposition party has called for the immediate resignation of Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson SC, over his failure to fulfill duties in accordance with the Access to Information Act.
Ramson who was appointed since 2013, has failed to produce and lay over a single annual report to the National Assembly, outlining the activities of the Office, including requests made and those fulfilled.
Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed
Moreover, Guyanese have accused the commissioner of protecting the very information he should be providing. It would be recalled that a group of citizens, including media practitioners, lawyers, politicians and other civil society organisations protested the commissioner’s East Street, Georgetown office for weeks last year over his reluctance to provide information requested by the public.
In a statement on Tuesday, WIN argued that the Commissioner of Information, the father of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson (junior) is effectively being paid $40 million of tax payers’ dollars to do nothing.
“Taxpayers are forced to bankroll yet another glaring example of waste and entitlement under the PPP. Forty million dollars has been set aside for the office of the commissioner of information, headed by Charles Ramson Sr. The office is at the home of Mr. Ramson. The commission has never submitted a single annual report as required by law,” WIN stated.
The party highlighted that several requests for information made to the commissioner have not been answered. It therefore concluded, “an office created to promote transparency has instead become a monument to secrecy funded by the very people it ignores. While ordinary Guyanese struggle with rising cost of living, millions are being funneled to the father of Minister Ramson. The government cannot point to one meaningful achievement of the commission, yet it continues to pour money into salaries and benefits.”
To this end, WIN called for the resignation of the commissioner of information. In addition, the party pointed to the need for a complete overhaul of the agency. According to WIN, “The budget for the office should be slashed to no more than $1 million per year until it demonstrates its value, or better yet, abolished altogether. The PPP must remember that Guyana’s treasury is not an allowance for the PPP’s friends and family.”
Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson SC
On Monday, lead Parliamentarian for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Dr. Terrence Campbell, asked government to state what actions would be taken against the commissioner for failing to fulfill his duties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira in response, told the committee of supply that the commissioner, as a former Judge, is aware of his functions and is expected to produce the necessary reports.
“What action are you thinking of Mr. Terrence Campbell? The commissioner himself is a former judge, I’m sure he is aware of the Act. I can’t right now say exactly what the Act says but that I’m sure he is aware of it and he is expected to produce a report.”
To this end, Campbell suggested that government seek the advice of the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall SC as “it’s ridiculous for us to come year after year here to parliament and budget $40M for this office with no visible output.”
This year, $33.5 million of the $40 million will go toward salary and vacation allowance, chauffeur, gratuity and NIS of the commissioner. Some $6.4 million is budgeted for the secretariat of the commission that has one staff.
Minister Teixeira made it clear on Monday that she does not support slashing the budget of any constitutional offices, including that of Ramson.
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- access to information act, Azruddin Mohamed, budget, Charles Ramson SC, Commissioner of Information, resignation
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