The Alliance For Change (AFC) has launched an investigation into allegations of financial and administrative irregularities involving one of its parliamentarians, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya, brought by Region 6 Councillor Haseef Yusuf.
Yusuf, in a letter to the editor, followed by vocal outcries to the media, has accused Veerasammy of “corrupt and fraudulent practices”.
When contacted yesterday, Yusuf said he had been advised to “keep a low profile until the matter has been settled”, as such he did not extend a comment on the issue. He said the matter would soon come to a conclusion, as he understands that it is being investigated at the party level and if he is not satisfied with the outcome he will compose another letter.
Stabroek News also contacted Dr Ramayya who also said that he was advised to remain silent until investigations were complete.
AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan told this newspaper that his party had launched an investigation into the allegations and will soon make public its findings.
Yusuf in his extensive, penned complaints, also said that there were attempts to cheat him out of a Regional Management Committee position as he was never made aware of the elections date.
Further, the letter extensively accused Ramayya of a cover up of financial activities. “Just after the November election, three AFC groups submitted financial reports on campaign activities to the head office: New Amsterdam, Whim and Upper Corentyne. Two of these groups submitted detailed reports with the necessary supporting documents; however, the Whim Group headed by Dr Ramayya failed to do so. He submitted a financial report without supporting documents…,” Yusuf’s letter said.
The Region 6 councillor also accused Ramayya of trying to solicit funds from supporters to recover $4.5 million that he claimed he spent during the elections campaign; an amount Yusuf said he did not believe Ramayya spent from his personal coffers.
However, a senior AFC member told Stabroek News that Ramayya had made no such claim for a refund. The source said it was known by the party that Ramayya indeed spent millions of dollars of his own money and so did many other members of the party.
The AFC member opined that much of Yusuf’s claims had to do with his personal dislike of Dr Ramayya and welcomed the speedy investigations which he predicts will clear the MP of the damning and derogatory allegations.
