Almost half-a-year after promises were made to fix equipment for the Learning Channel in Aishalton, Region Nine which has not functioned since it was installed over three years ago, it is still to be made operational.
Aishalton teacher John Adams had raised the issue with President Donald Ramotar who was on a campaign visit to the Deep South Rupununi village on December 3 last year. Subsequently, after he heckled Ramotar, Adams was slapped by a presidential guard. Before the assault, Ramotar was recorded as saying “You don’t know anything about Jagdeo. If he been here, he might a slap you, coz [because] you stupid.”
The Office of the President had said that the recording would have to be authenticated, but Ramotar, during an interview on a radio programme recently, finally admitted to making the comment but described the matter as “petty.”
Adams told Stabroek News on Thursday during a visit to Aishalton that he was thankful that Ramotar finally admitted to the comment and noted the denials even after others, including the village council had verified that the incident had occurred. “I am glad he admit it after all the covering up they try to do,” he said. “He feel that it is petty but… as president, as a leader, he should try to take certain criticisms we were making,” he said.
Adams said he does not see the issue as petty and noted that despite promises made at the meeting, the Learning Channel antenna and other equipment which were installed just before the 2011 general elections, are still to be made operational. He recalled that at the meeting, PPP/C regional coordinator Desmond Kissoon promised that the generator which is needed to provide power would be looked after. “If the generator work, then that would work,” he said but pointed out that to date, no effort has been made to fix it.
During the visit Stabroek News observed that one of the dishes for the channel is rusting and weeds are growing in the little shed where the generator is housed. Since its
installation over three years ago, after it was tested, the generator never worked, Stabroek News was told. The Learning Channel equipment also was never made operational. The Ministry of Education launched its Guyana Learning Channel in 2011 in a bid to take educational material to all parts of the country.
Adams said that after the incident with Ramotar and the slap, he felt that his reputation was tarnished but stated that he was protecting his rights. He noted that the presidential guards were checking to see whether anyone had recorded his exchange with Ramotar. “He felt nothing would have come of out of the issue,” the teacher said but noted that there were people recording hence the subsequent release of the recording.
“I am glad that he admit… They expose their real self and I hope that people would use that to make the right decision for next
week Monday,” Adams said referring to tomorrow’s general elections.
Adams said he would continue to raise questions about issues of concern. “I know myself… whenever I feel I need to raise some issue of concern of the community, I would point it out,” he said.
