Dear Editor,

I read in the press a few days ago that the President was off on a trip to Shanghai representing Caricom at some meaningless conference.

What I am concerned about and I think the public should be made aware of this, is that Donald Ramotar, General Secretary of the PPP who is neither a cabinet member nor a member of the Government and holds no position at Caricom, was also taken on this jaunt to China.

I would like someone to answer the following questions:

1.  In what capacity was Mr. Ramotar taken on this trip? Was it official or private?

2. If it was official, who or what was he representing?

3. Was Mr. Ramotar’s trip bankrolled by Guyanese taxpayers and if it was, I demand to know:

a. what was the cost of the ticket – was it first class, business class, premium economy or economy?

b. what was the cost of his hotel and meals?

c. were there any stopovers, if so where, for how, long and the, cost.

d. was he paid a per diem and by whom and what was the amount?

e. are these expenses going to be reimbursed to the state by Mr. Ramotar?

I am also informed that the President and Mr. Ramotar on their way back to Guyana went to New York to partake in a PPP organized backyard lime.

Was this diversion also bankrolled by Guyanese taxpayers or is the PPP going to reimburse the people of Guyana?

Where on earth is the opposition?

Yours faithfully,
Bibi K. Nandram