These are questions I would like Mr Ramkarran to answer

These are questions I would like Mr Ramkarran to answer

Posted By Stabroek staff On October 22, 2009 @ 5:02 am In Letters | 16 Comments

Dear Editor

I am responding to Mr. Ralph Ramkarran’s letter, `The stealing of books is a serious offence’ (SN, Oct 18.). The average mind in Guyana has to be amused at Mr. Ramkarran. This gentleman belongs to a ruling party of a country that Transparency International classifies as having the worst incidence of corruption in governmental structures for the English-speaking Caribbean and one of the worst in the world. No need to dwell on that but I am sure that given his position in the party he is rubbing shoulders with people who didn’t have time to steal books to educate themselves but stole money from the Treasury

I need to remind Mr. Ramkarran that at his party’s congress in 2008, the returning officer was Neermal Rekha. Now it wasn’t Frederick Kissoon, or Christopher Ram, or the PNC, or the TUC, or the AFC but the Guyana Revenue Authority that investigated Mr. Rekha in April 2004 and found that he signed more (emphasis mine) than fifty bogus duty-free letters in his capacity as Secretary to the Treasurer. I’m sure Mr. Ramkarran knows this because it did not occur 39 years ago but four and a half years and was headline news in the two independent dailies. Can Mr. Ramkarran tell me if he objects to sitting in the PPP with some names that are questionable like the politician Prime News accused of interfering with a female child, the mother of whom this columnist spoke with and who belongs to a PPP group on the lower East Coast?

Let’s move on. In the fifties, a young clerk at Bookers Stores stole a number of bicycle tires and was charged.

That Mr. Ramkarran can easily find in the newspapers for that period because I came across it in my research in the mid–eighties. That clerk is now one of the best legal luminaries the English-speaking Caribbean produced and practices law in Guyana. I don’t see Mr. Ramkarran writing about that. And he shouldn’t. That happened sixty years ago. Who cares? Maybe except Mr. Ramkarran, a contender for the presidential slot for the PPP in 2011.

Mr. Ramkarran has to know that as a public figure and one who casts blame on other public figures he must expect citizens to ask questions. Here are some questions for Mr. Ramkarran, none of which carry a value judgement. Can he say by what procedures his two sons were granted duty-free cars? I am asking for the particular position they were in at the time to entitle them to have duty-free letters.

My understanding is that the duty-free concessions were given to them as “remigrants” for studies abroad in Trinidad at the Hugh Wooding Law School.

If that is so, can Mr. Ramkarran tell me why there were letters in the papers by a number of law graduates who wrote to say that the concession were not granted to them because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not see Guyanese laws students in Trinidad as qualifying for remigrant status.

I may be wrong so I am asking Mr. Ramkarran to clarify this situation. I would ask Mr. Ramkarran to go into details. Secondly, was it under his chairmanship that Guyana Airways Corporation went bankrupt? Was there any investigation? Can Mr. Ramkarran say what percentage of state allocations his law firm, Cameron and Shepherd receives? Can he briefly tell us how many state institutions his firm represents apart from the two that we read about in the newspapers – Guysuco and UG? As Mr. Ramkarran can see no direct accusation was made against him. In closing let me say that Mr. Ramkarran is doing an excellent job of projecting himself as a suitable candidate to run Guyana in 2011. Just in case younger minds did not get it; I’m being stupendously cynical.

Yours faithfully,
Frederick Kissoon
16 Comments (Open | Close)

16 Comments To "These are questions I would like Mr Ramkarran to answer"

#1 Comment By Raj On October 22, 2009 @ 6:17 am

Freddie, I like you in this mode. You are becoming a thorn in their backside. Keep it now. You have my support

#2 Comment By LIND.CREEK On October 22, 2009 @ 6:30 am

Over to you Ramkaran let us hear your rebuttal…..speakup.

#3 Comment By LIND.CREEK On October 22, 2009 @ 6:33 am

Did they bring these cars back with them or did they purchase the vehicles in Guyana duty free.

#4 Comment By yasuman71 On October 22, 2009 @ 7:01 am

First, Freddie tried to tarnish the impeccable image of Cheddi Jagan. Then Freddie tried to demonize the humane image of Janet Jagan. Then Freddie tried to slingshot the Jagan’s son, Joey. Then he barked and he barked viciously at Ralph Ramkarran. Now he wants to smear the good names of Ramkarran’s two sons. I’m sure Ralph Ramkarran is more than capable of answering Freddie. But Ralph must be careful in how he supplies the facts. If the facts don’t please Freddie he may make some outrageous allegation.

#5 Comment By Sam On October 22, 2009 @ 7:09 am

I actually like Mr. Kissoon in this mode. He seems rational, focussed (for the most part) and makes some telling points. This is the sort of commentary that we need to see since it is more effective than what we have seen in the past from him. Good job.

#6 Comment By patriot On October 22, 2009 @ 8:59 am

Freddie is grasping at straws. Leave the discussion alone. Apologize for your youthful indiscretions and show you can bury the hatchet. This will endear you to those whose attention you so desperately seek.

#7 Comment By Diamond Dog On October 22, 2009 @ 9:09 am

yasaman 71. Let’s be fair. What’s good for the goose, is also good for the gander. Freddie has family also. Ramkarran should have thought about that before he started his slander. That is why we must think before we act. Actions have consequences. Guyana needs more people with back bone like Freddie to stand up to these shameless people.

#8 Comment By Errol Arthur On October 22, 2009 @ 9:27 am

Vintage Kissoon. When cornered he changes the subject to evade dealing with the issues. The issue here is that Kissoon is accused of defrauding the Guyana Public Library. Now Kissoon, what your response ?

#9 Comment By Kingshark On October 22, 2009 @ 10:24 am

i am surprise that a man of Ramkarran ability will get caught up in mudslinging the future Presidential candidate

#10 Comment By RDMAN On October 22, 2009 @ 10:46 am

Thanks Freddie,i like your style,you are giving them hell,they are trying all kinds of things to catch you,look how many years story they brought back,you are a thorn in their side,keep pressing them man,you and Peeping Tom are great,without you all corruption would have been more barefaced in Guyana.

#11 Comment By Touchau On October 22, 2009 @ 11:24 am

I hope the presidential hopeful Mr. Ramkarran will address these issues. It is important that the electorates get to know where he stands, so that they can better decide if he represents change or more of the same.

#12 Comment By La Dorada On October 22, 2009 @ 11:25 am

Keep it coming Fredo! may I point out as well that to your great credit in all your years as a columnist you have never “outed” anyone in your columns. You were forced to address this subject in order to expose the motivation behind the desperate, low-minded library book attack.

#13 Comment By Georgie On October 22, 2009 @ 12:16 pm

Yasuman71 ! I said yesterday that SN opened the door and now anyone can walk through it. I also said that maybe someone who knew Mr. Ramkarran when he was a youth might recall some of his escapades. Now lookee here , today ! These individuals are not without fault and this gov’t is under the microscope . Boom !

#14 Comment By Marc On October 22, 2009 @ 12:21 pm

Freddie,apologize for your youthful mistakes and people will forgave you instead of cussing out with Mr.Ramkarran and trying to justify your stealing books.This whole episode is turning out to be wan dutty fish market cuss-out,you guys are making Tante Merle look like she is in church all the time.

#15 Comment By Evan Thomas On October 22, 2009 @ 12:44 pm

Yasuman71, like me you need to go do an english course….it seems that english language is not our strength…I refer to you antonymic references to cheddi and janet and your fellow PPP impeccables.

#16 Comment By Light hearted On October 22, 2009 @ 12:52 pm

I hope Mr. Ramkarran is not a yes-man.

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