Dear Editor,
It is not my habit to respond to the many reports, allegations and misinformation peddled in many of the media in Guyana. However, I am forced, albeit reluctantly I must say, to put pen to paper and respond to the SN article on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 entitled `Drug seizures, charges up this year’ wherein the unnamed author states that “During her tenure, Rohee’s predecessor Gail Teixeira had said government had no interest in Khan”.
The first time I heard of this aspersion was at a recent meeting of the Joint Opposition Parliamentary Parties in front of the Parliament Buildings. I interpreted it as a cheap political shot and dismissed it. But to see it in writing in a newspaper as if it were the truth and to go further to question my colleague Minister Rohee on it, shows how far a lie repeated often enough becomes accepted as truth.
Let me set the record straight for those who may have problems remembering those days. I was the Minister of Home Affairs when Roger Khan et al were apprehended in Suriname for narcotic trafficking. I have never said “the government had no interest in Khan”. I know what I said at the time of his arrest and during the period as it is etched in my memory.
May I remind SN of my public statements on the drug barons and the narco-trade, quoted extensively in SN, which would may help in elucidating my posture on such issues.
It would do well for the SN in the future to be more responsible in presenting what it deems as “facts” to the public and be less susceptible to repeating what some street corner politicians are saying with no proof, no video recording or interview to indicate that I said anything of the sort.
Yours faithfully,
Gail Teixeira, M.P.
Editor’s note: We regret the error. Ms Teixeira had said at the time that Guyana would not be pushing for Mr Khan’s extradition from Suriname and that while the Guyana Police Force was investigating offences that he might have committed here it was up to Suriname to prosecute him for crimes he might have committed there.
What’s the point of having Gail try to clarify her position when we all now know that government had no interest in Khan because while Khan was in Guyana running his drug empire, before the Phantom Squad, it did nothing to apprehend him! Even after the US put out a narcotics report that named Khan as a drug lord in Guyuan, the government showed no interest in Khan. And if the government really was interested in Khan after all it and the public learned as Khan fled Guyana, why didn’t the government have Khan extradited from Suriname to Guyana to answer some serious questions about his confessed role in usin ghis resorces to fight criminals?
I believe I speak for the US, Britain, Canada and thousands of Guyanese at home and abroad when I say I am firmly of the opinion that the government had no interest in Khan as far as bringing him to justice.
And even Gail could tell us why! In fact, was she not the brave soul who said Guyanese should not do business with drug lords? Not long after that she lost her Home Affairs Minister portfolio! We know better, Gail, so go sell that line to those who are now surfacing from the cemetery!
Knowing this letter will most likely be published, Ms. Teixeira did not see it fit to herself state for the public what is ‘etched in her memory’. It is this contempt for the public that underpins all that is wrong with Guyana.
What was Khan being investigated for at the time? Was it serious, and if it were, why was he allowed to leave the country? The disinterest is obvious and hence the inferrence.
A lie reapeted often enough becomes acceped as the truth. That is PPP policy is it not ? Lies lies lies .
Ah lie yuh ah tell man….go suh!!!!
Oi Sandy! I agree her remarks are lame but wha she smokin gotta do with anything? Is not as if she’s still de Minister of Health.
No but it shows you that she is in a different planet, you cannot be smokin dat much ummmmm fiber and not have issues.
This lady still around,she was very weak as minister of Home Affairs.
Ms Texiera, your statement may have been worded differently but it translated to be the same thing. Bottom line- you and your government did not seem zelous in bringing Roger Khan to justice.
Exactly my point…she just dug a hole for her self.
Now Ms. Teixerira i believe you was the Best Minister the PPP had until you took the Home Affairs Minister post. At the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture you did an exceptional Job but you threw all that way when you made that statement that the editor was so kind to remind us of. To me it says the same thing of not being interested in Roger Khan. Here is the part that show lack of interest – “Guyana would not be pushing for Mr Khan’s extradition from Suriname” Even thou there was a police manhunt for him. After all the efforts by the Joint Service, your staff, you made that statement. You should be investigated and if found to have knowledge of Khan dealing – files on these people should have been handed over to you from Ronald Gajraj, you should be charge and place before the courts to answer for your inability to act on behave of the safety of this nation.
Thanks Editor Anand Persuad for this reminder.
Under President Hoyte’s short stay in office two major drug dealers were put in jail.
The PPP does not have a record of going after the drug lords in Guyana, and I rather suspect that this not by accident but by design.
Gail spare us your melodrama. All this time and now you are coming with this. The question remains why nothing was done after he was found with the device to intercept calls. The equipment is only sold to goverments around the world. So the question will never be answered. The ills of the PPP encounting.
Editor’s note: We regret the error. Ms Teixeira had said at the time that Guyana would not be pushing for Mr Khan’s extradition from Suriname and that while the Guyana Police Force was investigating offences that he might have committed here it was up to Suriname to prosecute him for crimes he might have committed there.
What is the difference between saying she is not pushing for extradition for surinam and we have no interest? its the same result so who cares? she is just splitting hairs, save that drama Gail we are accustomed to your drama sessions.
Remember you wanted to Sue various MP’s when they complained about Kwame McKoy being appointed to the committee for the protection of children? Lemme hear i guess you didn’t do that either?
Drama Drama Drama Queen, shame shame shame
Very good Brandon ! Modern Rhetoric – The art of effective speech and writing.
What you expect gail to say about the roger khan story? these PPP people…god be with them this coming elections so much wrong things are happening in this country by this government i hope the people eyes are clean