Dear Editor,
My attention was drawn to public statements made by Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference on April 11, 2024, in which he made several false accusations against me, including an allegation that I played “an active part” in stealing elections. VP Jagdeo, a former President of Guyana, in his capacity as General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), held the press conference at Freedom House. It was carried “live” on and disseminated by several social media platforms. It remains in circulation.
Jagdeo made extended slanderous attacks against me while commenting on the recent launch in Georgetown of my four new books, “Radical Roots”, “Like Scattered Seeds”, “Paintings in Poetry” and my autobiographical, “Dear Land of Guyana”. At that launch, I also re-introduced revised editions of my earlier books, “Fragments from Memory” and “Hendree’s Cure”.
During the media conference Jagdeo said: “He is so shameless to talk that he had to leave the house the next day after Irfaan Ali finally was sworn in after trying to steal elections for five months but forget the stealing of the elections that he was an active part of.” Those defamatory words were said of and about me. I categorically deny being “an active part” of stealing the 2020 elections, or any other elections, as alleged by the Vice-President.
What is indelibly etched in the public domain is my consistent role AGAINST elections rigging in Guyana since 1968. This is captured in my publication, “Synopsis of Rigged Elections in Guyana”, in my books, “Fragments from Memory” and “Dear Land of Guyana”, as well as in numerous newspaper articles and speeches. I call on Jagdeo to retract his false claim that I played “an active part” in stealing elections, and to issue a public apology therefor. I have since consulted my lawyers.
Sincerely,
Moses V. Nagamootoo
Prime Minister and Vice President (2015-2020)
Senior Minister/Member of Parliament (1992-2020)
Attorney-at-law/Journalist
