Dear Editor,
I deliberately kept away from this debate on “Ministerial Responsibility” after the second or maybe the third prison unrest in Guyana under Khemraj Ramjattan because I felt there was no need for debating this issue when the nation was in the middle of a security operation.
But now that all the prisoners have been removed from the “cow pasture” at Lusignan, I wish to join the debate, because horrible history was made under Ramjattan over the last few weeks. Guyana is now classified as having one of the worst prison systems in the Caribbean, with one of the worst break-out records.
The 2016 prison unrest in which 17 prisoners died should have been the trigger to cause any portfolio head to more effectively project manage the system until the risk levels were de-escalated. Under Ramjattan, the opposite happened over the last 12 months. Under Ramjattan, the conditions for a breakout in the prison system actually got worse, because of a lack of proper investments and executive lethargy at the policy conception and implementation level. For that reason alone, if Ramjattan has any dignity and honour left, he should offer his resignation to the President forthwith. Ramjattan has brought great shame to all his predecessors, especially Balram Singh Rai, one of Guyana’s foremost intellectuals and the most celebrated Home Affairs Minister.
Under Ramjattan, the cabinet found the resources to divert billions towards building a billion-dollar Durban Park (project), to fund ministerial travels, to increase their personal salaries by 50%, and to provide ministers with executive vehicles. But even after all that comfort, these people continue to fail the nation on many fronts, especially the security front; whereas they had presented themselves as the security barons of Guyana on the 2015 campaign trail. The evidence clearly reveals they are security baboons when it comes to managing the security sector, as they continue to mismanage the systems to protect the people of Guyana.
For that reason alone, Khemraj Ramjattan should go, because his poor leadership failed resoundingly to put systems in place to serve and protect the people.
On April 20, 1653, when Oliver Cromwell made a speech upon the dissolution of the Long Parliament, he said these words: “Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you (who) were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, JUST GO!”
I am truly disappointed in Ramjattan. He can so better serve the society by going back to his law practice, where he is fantastic, rather than clinging on to a siren and a portfolio at which he is an utter failure. I am convinced that he is no longer fit to conduct the affairs of the nation as the Minister of Public Security. As Cromwell said, “You have sat too long here for any good. Depart, I say, and let us be done with you!”
Regards,
Sase Singh
