WPA condemns Jagdeo’s verbal attack on Christopher Ram

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has called for the condemnation of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s verbal attack on well known Char-tered Account, attorney and Stabroek News columnist, Christopher Ram at the forum he had with Clico policy holders on Thursday.

The party in a release yesterday stated that “it underscores the depth of his descent into the politics of spite and lack of tolerance for dissent.”
“This kind of behaviour by the President has now become the norm. While these displays may be a source of partisan satisfaction to the President, it is nothing short of political arrogance and disrespect for his office and the Guyanese people. It proves his unsuitability for the office of President of Guyana.”

According to the WPA, persons in that position are expected to conduct themselves with dignity and not expose the Office of President of Guyana to ridicule as Jagdeo did.

It noted that Ram had argued in the media that it was the Bank of Guyana and not the President who should address the policyholders.
“The abuse of Ram continued during the question and answer session when policy holders were allowed to direct questions to the President. The verbal abuse of Ram escalated when as a policy holder, Ram attempted to ask a question. It was quite distressing to see some of those present applauding the President’s outburst, perhaps demonstrating the extent to which they were intimidated and not prepared to rock the boat. This is a sad commentary on the condition of our political culture,” the WPA stated.

The party congratulated Capitol News “for showing the world how Mr. Jagdeo uses the immunity provided by his office to direct the worst kinds of disparaging remarks to a citizen whose only offence was his attempt to exercise his fundamental right to be heard.”

It added that there were more dignified ways the President could have expressed his feelings even if he disagreed with Ram’s position.
“The right to dissent is a constitutional right that the president is bound to respect. WPA calls on citizens and organizations to raise their collective voices against this latest outrage by Jagdeo and say enough is enough,” the statement concluded.

The WPA’s statement came a day after a similar one from the PNCR in which it accused Jagdeo of degrading his office with verbal abuse at public forums while adding that he seems intoxicated with the power of the presidency.