Dear Editor,
Allow me the opportunity to commend the number of organisations which have publicly taken the position on the unacceptability of Volda Lawrence continuing to hold the position of Minister of Social Protection following her disturbing statements in relation to the APNU+AFC candidate Harding scandal. Their publicly stated position certainly lends credence to the authenticity of those organisations rather than merely being anti-PPP groups parading as ostensibly bi-partisan. Over the last ten months, the noted and noticeable silence of what were once the most vocal organisations and who were once the most self-righteous purported political actors when the PPP was in office have unmasked their true identify of being unavowed anti-PPP antagonists.
With reference to my letter published on March 18, where, inter alia, I identified Ms Lawrence’s incompetence and condemned the shameless perceived use of her ministerial position for partisan political purposes in breach of her oath of office, I stopped short of calling for her to be fired for two reasons: First, one would expect that in light of the revelations and public outrage even among APNU+AFC supporters any person with a single fibre of moral rectitude would, of their own volition, resign immediately. Having said that, that expectation ought to be tempered with an ample dose of reality check when we consider the fact that Ms Lawrence waited a very long time to finally obtain a ministerial position, it would be extremely unlikely that she would resign, especially given the pay and perks.
Second, the area of ministerial appointment and, of course, disappointment is entirely in the President’s domain, so the decision to fire or not fire Ms Lawrence is more a reflection of the moral essence of Mr Granger than a reflection of Ms Lawrence’s turpitude since the buck always stops with the president. That being so, it is unlikely that President Granger will fire Minister Lawrence because he simply does not have the political capital or personal will to so do. Consequently, and on instruction, the issue will be downplayed by the government, and many of their supporters who disagree will simply stay quiet.
In any event, the inevitable consequence of the axe remaining in stasis is a continued destruction of the APNU+AFC legitimacy in government.
Yours faithfully,
Charles S Ramson, MP
