‘People can go on a witness stand and say anything’
Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Captain Gerry Gouveia yesterday said that the revelations in the Robert Simels trial do not prove anything here because the court evidence “is yet to be substantiated.”
The testimony relevant to Guyana is floating around untested, Gouveia told Stabroek News, adding that supporting evidence must be produced to verify claims made by witnesses on the stand, particularly those of US government informant Selwyn Vaughn.
Vaughn had alleged a link between Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Simels’ former client, confessed drug trafficker Roger Khan. Testimony at the trial also suggested collaboration between the government and Khan. The joint opposition political parties have called for an international inquiry into the allegations.
But Gouveia said, “The evidence is inconclusive though the trial has concluded.” He explained that while serious claims have been made about the Minister and his alleged involvement in the purchase of Roger Khan’s infamous cellular intercept equipment, it has not been proven. “There was a lack of documentary evidence during the trial. Why was the export licence from the US Department of Commerce not produced to indicate who purchased this equipment? People can go on a witness stand and say anything,” Gouveia continued. He stressed that not a single document was submitted in the court with Ramsammy’s signature on it, adding that statements were also made about former Guyana Defence Force officers which have also not been proven. He emphasised that serious allegations warrant supporting evidence, including proper documentation, in the absence of which due process must be followed.
Addressing the calls for an independent inquiry into the allegations, Gouveia called them ill-timed, saying that the Guyana Police Force “must be given the space” to assess the information received from the US. He pointed out that the US government is likely to share information with the force here which has to be “fully assessed” to clear the way for an investigation, if any. Gouveia said also that any inquiry into the allegations must be based on proper legal grounds, adding that the police probe is what due process entails. Further, he stated that information cannot be taken randomly from the US trial and used here before the police are able to investigate the claims.
The PSC Chairman is the opinion that Simel’s conviction does not prove anything except that Simels was guilty of witness tampering. The fact that the jury has accepted the testimony of prosecution witnesses is not of relevance to the allegations that are tied to the country, he added.
Meanwhile, Gouveia observed that trial has partially hurt the country’s image, but he believes the impact is minor, saying that business here has not suffered as result of the revelations. In fact, he said, business is booming, particularly in the tourism sector.
Solid tourism figures within the past two months are “indicative that people are not afraid” to visit Guyana, he pointed out. “People are not afraid to visit, we have had a bumper summer,” he said, while emphasising that it has been business as usual.
But Gouveia said that mere association with the trial “is a bad thing for us [the country],” adding that any such linkages would result in a negative image. However, he said the scale of the negative impact is nothing alarming.
Previously, Gouveia had said that the public should not jump to any conclusions as the Simels trial was still ongoing. He said yesterday that it is still difficult to reach any conclusions given that “an inconclusive atmosphere still persists.”
