By Lakhram Bhagirat
Amid continuing questions about the relationship between Dr Prem Misir and the PPP/C government, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat yesterday defended his choice for a crucial natural resource transparency body with the argument that everyone deserves to be employed.
Bharrat’s statement appears to be a shift from the contention that the former National Co-ordinator of the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI), Dr Rudy Jadoopat had gotten the position because of his alleged affiliation with the Alliance For Chance (AFC). Both the AFC and Dr Jadoopat had denied that he was a member of the party.
Dr Misir has had close ties with former PPP/C governments and headed their state information agency. He also worked in the Office of the President under former President Bharrat Jagdeo and was seen as a key propagandist for the then government. In addition, he does not have qualifications that would make him better suited to the position than Dr Jadoopat, who had been in the post for five years.