Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy came under fire at a recent forum in the UK for misleading Guyanese citizens about the government’s suspension of parliament and over his alleged ties to now convicted drug kingpin Roger Khan.
Ramsammy was confronted by self-described political activist Norman Browne, who questioned why he was at the forum and not the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Browne, who faced strong opposition from most of those present at the meeting at Guyana’s London High Commission Office, also charged that President Donald Ramotar’s recent prorogation of the National Assembly was undemocratic.
In a nine-minute video posted on his Facebook page, Browne is shown in raised voice calling out the minister and the PPP/C’s government for corruption and mismanagement, even as he faced calls by those present to prove what he was saying while some supported him.
The video did not show the minister’s presentation as it appears as if it started just as the minister was about to complete his speech. It was at this point that Browne interjected and called him out for being untruthful. As he attempted to speak, Browne was accused of being opposition and was cautioned to sit since he would have a chance to speak and participate in a civil process.
But others objected to the minister continuing, pointing out that he had finished already and was going into politics and that he had strayed from the agenda, which had to do with parliament’s prorogation.
Ramsammy, who was in the UK while sections of the country were under floodwater, was then heard saying he was there to participate in a civil discussion. Describing what the “present situation” is like in Guyana, the minister said it appears as if the country is heading for early elections.
Following the completion of his presentation, persons were invited to ask questions and Browne stood again and stated that he was not asking a question but rather making a comment. He pointed out that the constitution in Guyana states that the Parliament in Guyana is the chief decision maker in the country and he began to talk about the minister’s and the government’s “attitude of corruption and mismanagement” but he was not allowed to finish.
Some asked him to prove that the minister and government were corrupt while some said they were present at the forum because they wanted to hear from the minister. “You are here because you are supporters of the PPP who does not want to hear the truth,” Browne retorted.
“You are out of order!” a woman shouted at Browne.
Despite being faced with fierce opposition, Browne continued with his comments, stating that the minister lied during his comments about the prorogation and the constitution. He said the minister did not inform that the opposition had engaged the government on several occasions and that it was President Ramotar who later said that he would not name a date for local government elections.
“The parliament is supreme,” Browne said, before pointing out that the PPP/C is a minority government. While some kept shouting that they no longer wanted to hear from him, others said they wanted to hear.
Browne also pointed out Ramsammy’s alleged association with convicted drug lord Roger Khan, saying they had been exposed by the Americans, while making other allegations against the minister much to the outrage of most of those present. A few persons were heard saying “criminal” and at least two persons walked out at this point.
Browne stood his ground and strenuously denied that he was opposition. Instead, he stated that he was a political activist fighting for the democratic rights for Guyanese.
Ramsammy was linked to Khan during the drug lord’s trial, where documentation was produced that showed that while he was Health Minister, he authorised the importation of spy equipment that was later seized from Khan. Ramsammy has repeatedly denied any links to Khan.
Following the posting of the video, Browne said on his Facebook page that under normal circumstances he would have addressed the gathering and Ramsammy with some respect and decorum. “Unfortunately I didn’t turn up there uninvited to sound, behave or look official,” he said, adding that one can no longer be “nice, decent or respectful to a dictatorship that has trampled the rights of the Guyanese people for decades.” He also apologised to those who may have found his behaviour unbecoming.
