Dear Editor,
The headline ‘Being a Minister has made me poorer – Dr Ramsammy’ in the Kaieteur News publication of Sunday, June 14, 2009 caught my attention. The article stated that at a press conference in responding to calls to submit his resignation, Dr Leslie Ramsammy made some eye-popping revelations which are still baffling me. Behold! An honourable man, said a voice inside me. This senior Minister of Health informed the media that, (a) he does not need to be a minister of the government, but is only here because his service is required; (b) that not a day has passed in the last three years that he has not had an offer from international agencies for “big appointments,” and has refused, even when they offered to pay him a hundred times more than what he’s presently earning; (c) that fifteen years ago when he came back he took a salary less than five per cent of what he was earning, and what he is earning today is 10% of what he can earn in the USA; (d) that he owns no house, because he cannot afford to pay for a house lot much less construct a house, and does not own a car and will not be able to buy one when he leaves his government office; (e) that his son who is a doctor, still owes over one million (US) dollars for his education; and (f) that he has not had a family vacation since he came back home because “my family and I cannot afford to do so… I am poorer today because I am a minister.” Well, well, what a gentleman! Editor, I don’t doubt for one minute that there are professionals and other technocrats who are filthy rich, and who earn money as if going out of style, way beyond what some ministers can ever hope to dream about. But still this honourable gentleman, given the scheme of things is offering us a pill too large to swallow. There are some things which remain in the psyche of a nation and its people as regards events, status and behaviour, etc, and there are personalities whose characteristics are indelibly etched in their minds based on actions and observations over time. An example: If say, the Buxton Sage Eusi Kwayana had made such revelation to the media, no one would have raised an eyebrow. I recall some years ago a certain gentleman who was working out a scheme for himself upon being cautioned, remarked, “Wha yu tek me fuh; I is nah Brother Eusi.” In the same vein, a discussion of this Ramsammy declaration, evoked the sardonic remark after a long suck teeth, “Leh Ramsammy geh me a break.”
This Ramsammy stand, judging from the behaviour and material worth of most of today’s politicians does seems a bit incongruous if one can say so, and if found to be accurate could be further construed as political integrity and patriotism at its best – a most desirable virtue which the populace would welcome with spreading arms. If only a modicum of such actions could be found in at least a few more (to be practical), then indeed that would be the hallmark of a true servant of the people. But this is what boggles the mind: If this senior minister is struggling to make it here in his dear land with the salary that he is earning which has made him poorer, how are, not only his fellow ministers, but those junior ministers and lesser officials who can’t manage to keep what they have in the shade, managing? After this revelation does it not behove the honourable gentleman, a moral figure, to become an advocate for increased wages for the working class? Come on Sir! After such a revelation you need to call on the President.
We will be so much richer if only we could seek out and appoint ministers the likes of Dr Ramsammy – such an honourable man. And even though he has thrown out the challenge for anyone to do a forensic audit, I am willing to bet pennies to pins that this honourable gentleman is riding on cloud nine. This is just not our style – least of all our ministers of government.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
FYFFEE, YOU SOUND LIKE YOU GAT WAN CUT LIP. YOU THINK EVERY BADY LIKE YOU AND YO MASTA, DE KABAKA AND DESMON HIGHT? AYO RAPE THE KUNTRY DURING AYO TIME.
I like this comment. The question therefore is whether or not Ramsammy is an honorable man. Why would he leave a better paying job to accept a decrease in pay and live in a country that is way behind time? The answer would be for love of said country and probably to give back to his beloved community. But what progress/accomplishments has he made thus far? How has the lives of the Guyanese people been made better by his role as Minister of Health and/or just for having him there? If these questions can be answered honestly and he has made such contributions, displayed some leadership qualities and it can be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is indeed an honorable man, then by all means he should remain in his current position. Otherwise, he should leave immediately.
Ne Ne ! The proof is in the pudding. Ramsammmy and his cohorts know that they are failures in their portfolios at the tax payers expense. But the sad part of it , is that they believe that they have a lock on knowledge. They can tell the populace anything and they would accept it. Why ? Because, ‘look who I am’ . He is crying poverty , hoping that certain personnel would listen , lest he be deemed as the COP.
Mr. Fyffe,
The minister’s son who is a doctor, still owes over one million (US) dollars for his education? Here is some information on medical school costs in the US:
Typical costs:
• Public medical school tuition averaged $16,690 per year in 2006-2007 for in-state residents, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges. To complete the four-year degree program the average cost is about $66,750. Because these schools receive tax revenues, out-of-state residents paid an annual average of around $34,900, or about $139,600 total. The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University offers one of the lowest in-state rates at $9,036 for the first year, while the University of Colorado charged one of the highest tuitions for non residents in 2005-2006 at $75,700 for the year.
• Private medical schools cost an average of $34,749 in 2006-2007 or around $139,000 for a four-year degree program. Baylor Medical School in Texas charges the lowest tuition at $8,325 for the first year with Tufts University Medical School in Boston charging one of the highest annual rates at around $44,700 during 2006-2007.
Additional costs:
• Health insurance for public medical school students averaged around $1,333 during 2006-2007. At private schools, insurance averaged $1,859 for residents and $2,004 for nonresidents.
• Books and supplies run around $1,400 -$1,500 for the first year and drop each year after. Students at Tufts Medical School starting in 2006-2007, paid $1,525 the first year, and will pay $535-775 a year afterwards.
• Fees vary by school. In 2006-2007 state residents at public schools paid an average of $3,013 in fees while nonresidents paid $3,747. At private institutions, students paid about $1,265.
• Because living expenses vary by location, check the individual school website for current rates. Dormitory and board charges at 2847Baylor University in Texas run $7,240 for 2007-2008, while a single room with a full meal plan is $6,024 at the University of North Dakota. First-year dormitory housing at Tufts University in Massachusetts was $10,890 in 2006-2007.
Does it take 4 years to become a doctor in the US I think not.
Do your math again. If it takes 4 years to be a doctor , please tell me wherein the States..
Ramsammy is a donut, anyone buying his hogwash I have a bridge in brooklyn to sell you it comes with waterfalls and such. Call me 1800-ure-anut.
Sodium aka Sase, the only believable thing ramsammy may have said was that his son owes a million dollars student fees which may have accumulated interest but with that said. please who would believe ramsammy is there working for the people of Guyana when the government is busy buying prados and flying jagdeo all over the world and they cannot pay ramsammy?
Who is going to believe ramsammy is a pauper when the state is paying 13K USD to a consultant / advisor to Jagdeo which seriously is not a hell of a lot of money until you add in all the perks which totals 200K USD per year.
So please give us a break ramsammy, tek de lie detector test.
Most mainland US schools offer 4-yrs med school training. This is followed by a number of years for residency. The number of year for residency depends on the specialty. Hope this is helpful
I do not believe the information in the above blog states that it takes 4 years to become a doctor. Please let me know where you gleaned that informational gem from. I also do not believe the math in the information provided needs to be redone. Do reread the blog and try to understand the context in which the “four-year degree program” was stated. I believe it refers specifically to the four years spent to graduate with a medical school degree. It does not include the time spent from Kindergarten through pre-med (first) degree. It also does not include time spent in residency. Oyeah Veigh!
ow sase you and your essays welcome back
BS,
You are significantly more gullible than I suspected. If this minister’s son owes $1,000,000 US in med student debt, where did he go to medical school, on Pluto or the University of Toronto? Perhaps he belonged to your fraternity or sorority. Looking at the average medical debt in 2007, this guy probably took 20+ years to graduate.
Here are some statistics from the American Medical Association on graduating medical student debt.
Student debt statistics
• $139,517 – According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average educational debt of indebted graduates of the class of 2007. The average debt of graduating medical students increased in 2007 by 6.9 percent over the previous year.
• 75.5 percent of graduates have debt of at least $100,000
• 87.6 percent of graduating medical students carry outstanding loans
Source: AAMC 2007 Graduation Questionnaire
AAmirrulla,
Hope this helps:
In most medical schools, the medical degree requires four years of study. The first two years, called the pre-clinical years, are spent primarily in the classroom and laboratory studying the basic sciences. The third and fourth years are spent learning from direct patient care in the clinical setting under the supervision of experienced physicians. The clinical clerkships are spent in a variety of settings including family medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, neurology and psychiatry. Students also pursue specialized elective clerkships in their final year of medical school. During medical school, students are required to take two steps of the US Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE). Step 1 is taken at the end of the second year and must be passed before starting the third year clinical clerkships. Step 2 is taken toward the end of the fourth year, and many schools require successful completion for graduation.
Good, excellent Mr. Fyffe.
Just this to the PPP and Dr. Ramsammy or should I say Brutus and company from the Guyanese people
“For Brutus is an honorable man,
So are they all, all honorable men” –
They are some people who will that Roger Khan is
a honorable man.
rumsammy is mutha teresa, hahahaha
an u iz pope pious !…. but yuh laff ,, sound like yuh fum de ghetto !…..
fyffe know wah ‘e talkin bout ,, ah doan know if he was anyting in de ILLEGAL circus ! but if ‘e was dem ‘e know wah ‘e talking bowt listen to dis “least of all “our” ministers of GOVT ,, !
de ambiguity of “our” ministers is subtle ,, but discernable !….
go figure !
I must have missed teh part about $1MM US owed by his son.
In any case, what makes Mr. Fyffe think that a forensic audit has not been already done. From the day RK’s attorned mentioned Dr. Ramsammy’s name, I am sure that the forensic auditors were on the job. Could it be that they are silent because they have not find anything on the minister?
I think that this is the only minister in the government that is making any sense, according to works.We are not living in Guyana,we don’t even have intentions of going back there to live but we always criticise the people that go back and try to help keep the country afloat.Just give the man a break and compare the quality of the health services now to that of the past,also government health care is free and we are not satified with that but we pay for the same type of services abroad wherever we live.
Marc, we don’t have to pay…we have insurance!!
Many of those that went back to Guyana to work as govt. official perhaps cannot get a decent jobs in USA. THis may not include Dr. Ramsammy. But there are others. Care to add few bits to this anyone?
Many returned to Guyana but expected to be treated like royalty and paid a salary comparable to similar positions in North America. This minister may not fit that mold and may indeed be performing a public service to his country. I am not sure about the $1,000,000 US debt his son is shouldering as the cost of his medical education.
de tourism minister !….. de religious advisor to the Prseident
– de singin pundit that recently died –,,, dem gat mo ,, but i en gat time…
sodium the key word is average, average does not mean if his son went to a top med school and in addition if he did some kind of specialization etc. anyway who gives a rats behind, the man is not credible and that is the point he should be subjected to the lie detector test,
The operative word is indeed average. A lot of average bird brains think they know what is good for Guyana and Guyanese even though they do not live there and have not lived there for quite some time. Again, where did this guy go to medical school, on Mars or the University of Toronto?
I do agree with you. I once went to GOINVEST to meet the then boss, he has MBA from US University. My self and associate found him extremely dull and no vision.
I don’ belive the minister for one second, i don’t know he think he’s fooling.
Dr.Ramsammy the Minister of Health ,,,, a portfolio he is well and requisitely qualified ,, ok ,, doan worry wid all ah dah ,, just look at weh de ministry of health bin b4 he !,,,,
an to ansah yuh narrow minded dismissal of ,, one who ,,,
– certainly not in dis lifetime — u will never be able to occupy any space of his stature !…