‘People can go on a witness stand and say anything’
Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Captain Gerry Gouveia yesterday said that the revelations in the Robert Simels trial do not prove anything here because the court evidence “is yet to be substantiated.”
The testimony relevant to Guyana is floating around untested, Gouveia told Stabroek News, adding that supporting evidence must be produced to verify claims made by witnesses on the stand, particularly those of US government informant Selwyn Vaughn.
Vaughn had alleged a link between Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Simels’ former client, confessed drug trafficker Roger Khan. Testimony at the trial also suggested collaboration between the government and Khan. The joint opposition political parties have called for an international inquiry into the allegations.
But Gouveia said, “The evidence is inconclusive though the trial has concluded.” He explained that while serious claims have been made about the Minister and his alleged involvement in the purchase of Roger Khan’s infamous cellular intercept equipment, it has not been proven. “There was a lack of documentary evidence during the trial. Why was the export licence from the US Department of Commerce not produced to indicate who purchased this equipment? People can go on a witness stand and say anything,” Gouveia continued. He stressed that not a single document was submitted in the court with Ramsammy’s signature on it, adding that statements were also made about former Guyana Defence Force officers which have also not been proven. He emphasised that serious allegations warrant supporting evidence, including proper documentation, in the absence of which due process must be followed.
Addressing the calls for an independent inquiry into the allegations, Gouveia called them ill-timed, saying that the Guyana Police Force “must be given the space” to assess the information received from the US. He pointed out that the US government is likely to share information with the force here which has to be “fully assessed” to clear the way for an investigation, if any. Gouveia said also that any inquiry into the allegations must be based on proper legal grounds, adding that the police probe is what due process entails. Further, he stated that information cannot be taken randomly from the US trial and used here before the police are able to investigate the claims.
The PSC Chairman is the opinion that Simel’s conviction does not prove anything except that Simels was guilty of witness tampering. The fact that the jury has accepted the testimony of prosecution witnesses is not of relevance to the allegations that are tied to the country, he added.
Meanwhile, Gouveia observed that trial has partially hurt the country’s image, but he believes the impact is minor, saying that business here has not suffered as result of the revelations. In fact, he said, business is booming, particularly in the tourism sector.
Solid tourism figures within the past two months are “indicative that people are not afraid” to visit Guyana, he pointed out. “People are not afraid to visit, we have had a bumper summer,” he said, while emphasising that it has been business as usual.
But Gouveia said that mere association with the trial “is a bad thing for us [the country],” adding that any such linkages would result in a negative image. However, he said the scale of the negative impact is nothing alarming.
Previously, Gouveia had said that the public should not jump to any conclusions as the Simels trial was still ongoing. He said yesterday that it is still difficult to reach any conclusions given that “an inconclusive atmosphere still persists.”
Gouviea should be calling on the ppp to launch an independent investigation immediately rather than trying to defend them.
Don’t worry samaroo when a u win in 2011 launch a full investigation and jail all a them.
cakeye , i always said where are the documents, go and see if you can print them.
JUST PRESENT THE PROOF
I recognise your lil Hypo. here again Samaroo,,, You were the one of the first man to say Jerry is a very fair person when he acknowledged speaking to Simmels, now you are acusing him of defending the PPP,,, Boy you are one little confused soul…
Since Gerry’s name was called as having spoken to Simels, he has been trying to down play the importance of the trial and the evidence that emerged from it and the fact that we should have an international body investigate. Why Gerry?
I remember while Roger Khan was in prison in Suriname it was Gerry who chided them about their archaic prison system. Why Gerry? Was he feeling a bit sorry for Roger?
The US doesn’t have to produce anything they didn’t need in order to get Simels convicted. It was Simels who called in the manufactuers of the equipment to the trial, not the US govt, but Gerry, that doesn’t say that the US doesn’t have the juice. In fact everyone knows that the US is now sitting on a ton of information, keeping their powder dry, gathering even more information and “listening” to all these denials from and statements from “certain Guyanese”.
Speak for yourself, Gerry. Enough came out at the Simels trial. In fact plenty to warrant an international investigation of Guyanese officials. Stop trying to convince the opposition parties and the Guyanese people that an international investigation is not warranted. And why are you doing that? Why are you now defending Ramsammy? Are you really in a position to know ALL that Ramsammy has been up to?
Tek care Gerry, you are now parroting Charles Ramson of a few days ago, you know about the Guyana police getting info to investigate. WHY ARE GUYANESE OFFICIALS SUDDENLY AFRAID OF THAT INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION??????!@!!!!!
Combined opposition, I think you guys are unto something here. Full speed ahead with that international investigation call….
Shhh this time. Don’t tell Gerry anything more. He might share it with Charles….hey, you never know!
Do not believe the next party that takes power in GY won’t go after the PPP and prosecute them for their crimes in this country.
If you think they are gonna get a free ride guess again.
Thanks Gerry, for letting the hot and stale air out of Samaroo,repeatedly he has been told that this is an American issue (alleged drug trafficking) not Guyanas, that is why Khan is on trial in the US and not Guyana, he (Samaroo) seemingly has a limited knowledge… if any, on matters of jurisprudence.
What Samaroo can win Jamesie??? Winning election is not like winning a game of cards…
I responded to samaroo, but SN refuse to post my comment,,,The man is a Hypocrite,,,When Gerald made his response to Simmels claims, he was the first to say Gerald is a decent man, this same man continued in the same way this time bringing more truth which Samaroo is claiming the man is defending the PPP…
cakeye winning the biggest mouth contest, yes you can.
Oh yeah, is he a pilot or a attorney?…I thought he has a pilot license, but it seems like he has an attorney-at-law license…lmao. Mr. Gouveia, do you have stakes in the private sector or in the gov’t sector or both? It seems as though you are a paid attorney on the gov’t behalf, or the new Public Relations officer for the gov’t of Guyana.
But there were evidence when the gov’t bought the two garbage helicopters?…but still the gov’t didn’t see anything wrong with the helicopters. Mr. Gouveia, I think you should keep your day job. Since the ‘evidence inconclusive,’then why don’t you write the USA gov’t on behalf of the Guyana gov’t and request the transcripts?
I would suggest you stay quite like the rest of the tight lips gov’t officals and stop letting yourself look foolish, because when the self-confessed DRUG LORD sentencing come up in October you will be feeling embarrass.
Please go back and find the blog where i said he was a fair person.
Bad day for SAMROO and co, good for guyana, we need more Gouveia.
I don’t know why Captain Gouveia even bothered to answer SN reporter. This isn’t news : it has all been shown before that the so called testimony was by deperate persons trying to save their skins.
Stale news, SN. but it will get the usual from those now suffering from the BIG LET DOWN folliwng the thinkin the NY court..
Shamroo this morning at a canoe rental place in Florida: ” It is me Shamroo from Guyana. I need a canoe to paddle to Barbados where Reddy gon pick me up and give me counselling (and leave canoe behind on tarmac because it too big to fit in vehicle). Whey Barbados dem ?”
It is too early to assess the impact of this trial on Guyana’s economy. I would humbly advise Mr Goveia to remain quiet on this issue. We have to await the US Government’s reaction to these revelations, we have to await the sentencing of Roger Khan, we have to await the return of Roger Khan to Guyana after serving his time (dem boys sey it will be clean up time for those who lied on him to protect their own derierre).
This man has become an apologist for the government after being ostracized for his comments on the helicopter purchase.
you’ve got this one a bit wrong BP. He has ALWAYS been a mouthpiece for the gov’t.
Nuff nuff big ones, glad if the US Government lock up Roger and throw away the keys since they did not tell the full truth to support the man. But the US Government did a deal with Roger and they know whom are the rogue officials. Expect to see nuff nuff visa withdrawal. Please expect an early release of Roger Khan since he is no longer America’s problem, he is a friend of the American Government now.
Here is a clear-thinking man renowned for his independence and forthrightness. Captain Gouveia is a true Guyanese citizen concerned about our country’s image, yet not falling for any and all allegations like those gullible mindless PPP-haters, those “armchair generals and internet generals,” to quote our beloved Robert Corbin.
Yasuman, the only gullible mindless people you are talking about are the supporters of the pee pee pee. the truth stares them daily about the incompetence of the pee pee pee but they are not seeing it. that includes you.
Yasuman71: Those statements were made in a court of law under oath. That must count for something. There is more to this embrace than meets the eye. The government did not look good during this trial especially when the name of the Minister of Health is being bandied about in a criminal case that involves terminating the lives of witnesses. What would you guys be saying had Simels been found “not guilty”? The crowing would have non-stop.
Yasuman, what you Gouveia and a lot of other PPP supporters are failing to take into account, is that equipment, which is supposed to be sold only to Governments was found in possession of a private citizen. Ragardless of what was said in court, Where is the explaination as to how this sensitive equipment came to Guyana, and in the hands of a private citizen? I’ll like to see Mr. Gouveia explain that since he seems to have all the explainations.
Yasuman…let’s put it to the test and then who has to shut up will do so…you being such a ‘diehard and born’ pppite should ask Ramsammy to travel to the US to clear his name with the US authorities….the proof is in eating the pudding…let him bite the bullet….. until then you are also a gullible and mindless hater as those you condemn….and worse you know it.
Yasuman, you say ‘clear-thinking’ and ‘renowned for his independence’..
WOW!!!… It’s amazing how this Captain Gouveia individual could attain such a high level of respect in this society and yet be without even the least amount of curiosity in search of the whole truth at the same time. This is proof, and in living color, that Guyana is indeed a “FAILED STATE” where anything goes and the quest for nothing but the truth be damned….
Just remember Yasu, that when we live in denial, lie, hide, obfuscate, say no comments and pretend ignorance of the obvious reality the issues in question don’t suddenly disappear but continue to grow ever so controversial in our future. It remains an active consumer in the future….
However, when we confront, solve, inquire, investigate and then answer all relevant questions surrounding the controversy. It immediately become part of our history, where it remains behind us never to surface as an embarrassing threat again.
The RK fiasco will not go away until the GoG makes it disappear legitimately.
It’s so clear John that yasuman71 can see it all the way in the usa.
Mr. Goveia, neither the minister or the government was on trial. Evidence in the trial linked them to Roger Khan. The fact that they were linked calls for an investigation to acertain the truth or lie of these allegations. You do not need evidence to investigate. You investigate to get the evidence.
Mr. Gouveia should be made aware that it was a US case and not a Guyanese court case. When a defendant enters into a plea agreement with the Feds, the evidence provided has to be substantiated with all claims requiring documented proof. If the ‘mob rat’ cops a deal and states that a body was buried at a location, the Feds would be digging for the body. Likewise, in this court case, the Feds pressed charges and provided evidence. If they did not have the evidence,the defendants lawyers would have blown holes in the prosecutor’s case.
A man is shot and killed and an informant identifies the shooter, they need the murder weapon or to have suspect on tape confessing. So wake up Mr. Gouveia, a jury convicts based on the evidence not on hear say. And all the case related material could be viewed and photocopied for free at the courthouse.
just publish it if its there.
Why are so many Guyanese afraid of an International investigation?
jerry gouveia is either a blind man or plain stupid. who in guyana with knowledge of the dealings of roger khan will come forward in guyana to add to what was said in a us court. that person or persons coming forward wont last two days…if you know what i mean. gouveia needs to get real and stick to what he knows; flying kites to the interior.
The trial was not to prove Ramsammy’s guilt. He was not on trial so producing evidence showing his signature would have been irrelevant. Only an investigation will determine if such evidence exists. That’s the obligation of the Guyana authorities or whoever really wants to know if the allegations against Ramsammy are true. The U.S. court has done its job, i.e., convicted Simels, they are not going to turn around now and do Guyana’s job. Guyana has to do that.
well said, where are the evidence, we need the informer to testify in the courts ////////guyana.