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
