Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo yesterday said he respected the decision of his former Alliance For Change (AFC) colleague Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya to resign from the party but also hinted that his performance as Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six was not up to par.
“I am not aware what immediate cause there is to attach to his resignation, but he resigned and then he proceeded to resign also as a member of the Alliance For Change, which he did before,” Nagamootoo said yesterday, when he was approached on the issue at the Ministry of the Presidency, following the swearing in of the members of the tribunal set up to inquire into whether Carvil Duncan is fit to remain as Chairman of the Public Service Commission.
Nagamootoo also noted that Ramayya was the only member of the party’s leadership who voted against it entering into partnership with APNU to contest the 2015 elections. He said that Ramayya, who resigned earlier this week, after he had also resigned as REO, has been consistent in his position, which would have resulted in him not accepting a seat in the National Assembly.
However, the Prime Minister said while he had supported Dr. Ramayya’s appointment as REO and even recommended him, he was also critical.
According to the Prime Minister, the former REO was called in several times by tender board officials to ascertain what he was doing and how he was performing since by virtue of the position he held he was under pressure to deliver.
“I have tried as best as I could and I think I could credit myself with strongly recommending him to be the REO and I supported his appointment and I went to Berbice…to announce his appointment. I was proud of his appointment but equally I have also been critical… Berbice is too important not to have development works proceeding apace and not expediting the contracts that have been given to see that these things are done,” he said.
Nagamootoo, asked whether he believed the resignation would see a “backlash” against the government in Berbice, pointed out that Ramayya had resigned “again” and when he resigned the first time “there was no backlash.”
As to Ramayya’s claim that he resigned over corruption in the government, Nagamootoo pointed out that his former colleague has not given any facts regarding corruption and he is not aware of the context of the allegations.
As to the claim that the party owes Ramayya millions, Nagamootoo said that he routinely comes up with a sum and various figures.
Nagamootoo described the former party member as a friend, brother and a villager who has made a tremendous sacrifice and a strong contribution to the country. “Whatever might have caused his resignation, I do not see that as [deterring] me from my impression of him but he remains a good person,” he said.
Earlier this week, Ramayya told Stabroek News that he resigned because “he got tired” of the way problems reported to senior government officials were handled.
He also said that corruption is still prevalent within the regional system and he tried to make changes but was greeted with a “new type of bullyism.” He explained that while he and the Regional Chairman David Armogan worked to move the region forward, supporters of the coalition and the opposition were not cooperative. “They are not working and you can’t tell them what to do,” he said referring to members of the coalition.
