Former Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya
Former Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), 75-year-old Dr Veerasammy Ramayya, has been charged under the Cybercrime Act, and has been arraigned before Senior Magistrate Alex Moore at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
It is alleged that Whim Village resident Dr Ramayya had used a computer system to harass and humiliate Surujdyal Sahadeo, called ‘Pandit Dave’, a 43-year-old resident of Crabwood Creek, and Hindu Priest and Councillor of the Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC), in contravention of Section 19 (3) of the Cybercrime Act 2018 of the Laws of Guyana.
Dr Ramayya has pleaded not guilty as charged, and through representation from his Attorney, Mirza Sahadat, has been released on his own recognizance. He will have to return to court on February 20, 2023, when the matter will be called again.
Speaking with the media after the matter was adjourned, Sahadat said anybody can be offended or embarrassed, and he added that the offended person has the right to report the matter to the Police.
“These same laws have been quashed in other jurisdictions, such as Kenya, Zimbabwe, India and the United States of America. It is too wide a dragnet; anything that offends somebody, or they feel embarrassed, a person can be charged for a cybercrime?” the Attorney questioned. “I think the threshold should be much higher. Under this Act, this threshold is too low, and we intend to challenge it constitutionally.”
Sahadat has opined that charges of this nature constitute an interference with the freedom of expression and speech, which is a fundamental right, as stated in the law.
Dr Ramayya has been a controversial figure in Region Six since being appointed REO after the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition had taken office in 2015. He had allegedly undertaken projects without the approval of the RDC, and had eventually resigned under pressure. He later resigned from the Alliance for Change and joined the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) leading up to the 2020 National and Regional Elections.
Following the PPP/C’s return to office, Dr Ramayya had been asked to head the Rapid Response Task Force, but had tendered his resignation after his demands had not been met. And in recent times, Dr Ramayya has been very critical of the PPP.
