The Ministry of the Presidency has condemned attorney and activist Christopher Ram’s recent criticism of President David Granger, while accusing him of seeking to create ethnic divisions and unrest.
Ram, in a strongly-worded letter published in the February 23rd edition of this newspaper, sought to make his case for why he would not vote for Granger at Monday’s general and regional elections, despite having supported him and the APNU+AFC coalition at the 2015 polls.
Ram accused the president of having contempt for the constitution and also of being “divisive”, including an “insensitivity to ethnic concerns” and leaning towards “narrow ethno-centric policies.”
In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry of the Presidency accused Ram of “false and misleading comments,” aimed at maligning the president’s character and bringing his policies into disrepute, while fomenting race hate during the elections period.
It maintained that all of Granger’s decisions have been within the parameters of the constitution. “Mr. Ram has failed to provide evidence to support this allegation, which may indicate that his false statements could be the result of his incorrect understanding of the provisions therein,” it said.
Among other things, Ram had cited the president’s failure to reconstitute the Judicial Services Commission and his appointment of James Patterson to head the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) before the Caribbean Court of Justice found the decision to be unconstitutional. He also accused the president of defying the National Assembly’s passage of a No-Confidence Motion against government, requiring early elections, because his supporters “elected him for five years.”
In refuting Ram’s claim that President Granger has “demonstrated a tendency towards narrow ethno-centric policies,” the ministry said all of the policies implemented after the 2015 polls have been for the benefit of all Guyanese, regardless race, political affiliation or geographical location. “The President has sought to ensure equitable access to all public services. To state otherwise is outrageous. The Ministry cautions Mr. Ram that as a public figure it is irresponsible of him to make and disseminate such reckless statements,” it said.
Ram also accused Granger of retaining all the Afro-Guyanese permanent secretaries inherited from its predecessor, while removing almost all the rest. “The result is that Indo-Guyanese are barely represented among [permanent secretaries] and in the public service as a whole. Of the scores of senior positions in the State sector, less than ten per cent represent the other community,” he added, while noting that two prominent active persons – Cecil Kennard and Prem Persaud – were removed because of age, while two individuals others, James Patterson and Professor Clive Thomas, were appointed.
He also cited what he contended was the cruel and inhumane treatment of sugar workers.
The ministry said Ram’s claim that the president “has retained all the Afro-Guyanese Permanent Secretaries inherited from its predecessor” is fair. It said he inherited a number of senior officers from the previous administration and, in keeping with the coalition promise not to retrench workers when it assumed office, it retained most of them, who continue to serve in the public service to date. It, however, took issue with the claim that the president has removed almost all the rest, resulting in the marginalization of Indo-Guyanese among Permanent Secretaries and in the public service as a whole. The ministry said in most of the ministries, the Permanent Secretaries are traditional, senior public servants who have worked in the public service for many years. “They were given promotions because of the skill and institutional knowledge that they possess. It is unfortunate that Mr. Ram chose to look at their race as opposed to their qualifications and expertise. The Ministry therefore, maintains that there has been no Indo-Guyanese purge from the Public Service under this administration and Mr. Ram has failed to provide any evidence to the contrary,” it added.
While Ram also criticised the pattern of public spending in the campaign season as “reckless,” the ministry said his assertions too that there has been an increase in public spending during this campaign season are unfounded. It further added that Granger remains the Head of State until another president is sworn in and he is, therefore, entitled to the use of all state operated vehicles to transport him in and around the country. Similarly, it said the ministers of the government are still holders of public office during this campaign season, and they too are entitled to use the state operated vehicles to transport them to conduct their duties. “Mr. Ram has again failed to provide any evidence to support his claims,” it added.
