Dear Editor,
I write in condemnation of the remarks made by Member of Parliament, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan and the manner in which the Kaieteur News reported on his motion.
The MP in my view has breached some sacred principles of which he has been a practitioner. KN (August 10) quoted Mr Ramjattan as saying that Ministers Irfan Ali and Ashni Singh lied to the Parliament and the headline screamed, “Housing Minister committed to stand Parliamentary ‘trial.’” This headline and the utterances of Mr Ramjattan convey the impression that my colleagues have been convicted of serious wrongdoing.
The Speaker reported that, in his opinion, a prima facie case had not been made out against Minister Singh, and with respect to Minister Ali the Speaker agreed that the matter be referred to the Privileges Committee.
When one reads the quotations from MP Ramjattan in the Kaieteur News, he has tried and convicted both Ministers of lying to Parliament. The motion against Minister Singh was dismissed and the one against Minister Ali has gone to the Privileges Committee, but that is not a conviction. An appropriate headline would have been: ‘Motion against Minister Singh dismissed; Ali to appear before Privileges Committee.’
My colleagues and I have full confidence in Minister Ali and affirm that he will be exonerated of any matters brought against him
Yours faithfully,
Manzoor Nadir MP
