It is not my habit to respond to the many reports, allegations and misinformation peddled in many of the media in Guyana. However, I am forced, albeit reluctantly I must say, to put pen to paper and respond to the SN article on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 entitled `Drug seizures, charges up this year’ wherein the unnamed author states that “During her tenure, Rohee’s predecessor Gail Teixeira had said government had no interest in Khan”.
The first time I heard of this aspersion was at a recent meeting of the Joint Opposition Parliamentary Parties in front of the Parliament Buildings. I interpreted it as a cheap political shot and dismissed it. But to see it in writing in a newspaper as if it were the truth and to go further to question my colleague Minister Rohee on it, shows how far a lie repeated often enough becomes accepted as truth.
Let me set the record straight for those who may have problems remembering those days. I was the Minister of Home Affairs when Roger Khan et al were apprehended in Suriname for narcotic trafficking. I have never said “the government had no interest in Khan”. I know what I said at the time of his arrest and during the period as it is etched in my memory.
May I remind SN of my public statements on the drug barons and the narco-trade, quoted extensively in SN, which would may help in elucidating my posture on such issues.
It would do well for the SN in the future to be more responsible in presenting what it deems as “facts” to the public and be less susceptible to repeating what some street corner politicians are saying with no proof, no video recording or interview to indicate that I said anything of the sort.
Yours faithfully,
Gail Teixeira, M.P.
Editor’s note: We regret the error. Ms Teixeira had said at the time that Guyana would not be pushing for Mr Khan’s extradition from Suriname and that while the Guyana Police Force was investigating offences that he might have committed here it was up to Suriname to prosecute him for crimes he might have committed there.
