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Former Member

April 23, 2015

Jagdeo cautions Ramsaran for “distasteful” remarks

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

By Devina Samaroo

Former President and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executive Bharrat Jagdeo joined his Party colleagues in condemning the behaviour of Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran for his remarks against rights activist Sherlina Nageer.

“First of all, personally I think it should have never happened, it was very distasteful, and we should never say anything about anyone, particularly a woman…,” Jagdeo told media operatives during a press conference at Freedom House on Wednesday.

Nageer and Dr Ramsaran were on Monday involved in a very heated confrontation outside the Whim Magistrate’s Court, Berbice during the hearing of a case against Jagdeo brought by accountant Christopher Ram.

Reports indicate that Nageer rudely interrupted the Minister while he was being interviewed by two reporters. The activist was heard being loud and provocative towards the Minister, after which he responded with disparaging comments. He, however, recognised he had erred and issued a public apology via a press release to the media later that day.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran

The former President noted that he recognised the Minister’s explanation of the untimely situation, but nonetheless affirmed that Dr Ramsaran was wrong to respond the way he did. “I gather Bheri Ramsaran said he has apologised for this … he claimed he was provoked … but in spite of that, he should not have said anything of that nature,” Jagdeo made known.

While on the topic, the former President took the opportunity to clarify the allegations surrounding him and his ex-wife, Varshni Singh. “I saw they said that I beat my wife…let me make it clear to everyone … I have never physically abused a single woman in my entire life, including my ex-wife…so that is clear…,” he pointed out.

Noting that he cannot speak on behalf of the PPP/C on the situation, Jagdeo disclosed that it was in the Party’s practice to condemn any disparaging remarks against women, especially if it was done in a way that seemed sexist.

Imprudent conduct

Meanwhile, the former President is not the only official from the PPP/C camp who raised concerns about the Minister’s remarks. Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper issued a press release to the media on Wednesday condemning the Minister for his imprudent conduct.

“The remarks made by Minister Bheri Ramsaran are unacceptable and an affront to women. I condemn his utterances in the strongest possible manner. It is yet another example of how much more needs to be done in ensuring that women are treated with respect and dignity especially by the exemplars of our society,” the release read.

The statement went on to point out that this incident was not an isolated case. “It is symptomatic of the way our society can still be at times despite the huge strides we have made in advancing the rights of women.

“It reinforces my own personal intention and commitment to championing the cause of the vulnerable in our society,” the release concluded.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand also took to social media to express her dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Minister. Similarly, Jagdeo had noted his hopes that the media and the general population would respond with the same vigour in condemning similar behaviour expressed by anyone against another person.

 

 

 
       
   
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Dem funny boys trying for points but is good to see them for once say something against a wrong doing. Will anything be done, sure, a slap in the palm, a lil hi five an tings irie.

cain

When former First Lady, Varshnie Singh, spoke out in 2009 about what she called “institutionalized” or “high-tech” domestic violence, she spoke of her fears and insecurities living in a country where her

 Former First Lady, Varshanie Singh

Former First Lady, Varshanie Singh

“oppressor” had his hand in every facet of the day to day functioning of the country. This, she said, had put her in a precarious position from which she could not escape. It was after she was locked out of State House that the Former First Lady documented, in great detail, her decade-long experience of verbal and emotional abuse by Jagdeo. She said that during their marriage she was not allowed to work and did not receive proper maintenance or care, financial or otherwise. The Office of the First Lady was one she dubbed a “myth.” She had stated that she and Jagdeo had a “deal” before getting married that they would work together, to move Guyana forward, but that never happened. Singh had spoken of her non-profit Kids First Fund being sabotaged, often by her ex-husband. The charity was one used to raise funds for medical care for poor Guyanese children. “He found my work embarrassing and me annoying. The First Ladies of every country in the world, when they are helpful, are treated with respect and are given the full backing of their husbands and the nation.” Singh said she had been isolated and alone for two years. “If I wasn’t home by 6:00pm, the apartment door would be locked with a latch from the inside so my key could not open it…When I was locked out, I would have to spend the night on the sofa on the first floor without a sheet, praying for the night to end quickly,” Singh said. The former First Lady had spoken of having been sabotaged over and over: being denied money and support to run her charity and being denied rights to buy land to start a low-cost specialist hospital for the country. “Although my work is done with total commitment, fairness and honesty for the benefit of others, it irritated my husband a lot. “I used my fancy job title to advocate for those who had been taken advantage of and needed help, the voiceless, poor people, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation.” She had said that this was the first country where the First Lady was “proactive, doing good for the nation but gets penalised because her husband is President and finds her work to help the same people he swore to defend and represent as ”showing up the inadequacies of his government” and therefore made me his enemy.” The former First Lady had not alleged physical abuse. She claimed that Jagdeo had decided that to punish her, “he would withhold all resources, financial and otherwise and line my path with a multitude of cruel, selfish obstacles.” “It is funny and sad to hear the politicians talk about the campaign against domestic violence, investing millions to “stamp it out” etc when what I am experiencing is hi-tech domestic violence and persecution. “Our (then) President is using his office and state resources, including Ministers unprofessionally, to disadvantage a woman.” “I have been deprived of the basics for many years, my food is taken care of by my Aunt who has a shop. My clothing, money and everything else is from my parents and family,” she had said. She said, later, that attempts to gain independence “would somehow eventually need his approval on the business front. On the job front, I was told that no one would employ me for fear of backlash from our President.” The former First lady had said that she applied for 31.4 acres of land at Moraikobai to develop a hospital and complex offering a number of benefits which she had offered to buy from the Government. “But I was told by the President that he can’t sell state land. We asked for a 99-year lease, but he said he can only give 25-year lease.” This is in stark contrast to prime land that was given for controversial projects in more recent years. When information was made public about the extent to which the then Head of State had reportedly ill-treated his wife, Kaieteur News had sought comments on the issue from senior female government officials. None of them would comment. Six years later, none of the female government Minister would even say word about Jagdeo’s wife abuse.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....s-out-on-wife-abuse/

 

Mitwah
Originally Posted by cain:

Very beautiful. Having a nice large picture of her on the walls of that house Jags gonna have to let go, would be so beautiful, what you say?

I aint want look at no damn Picture,  I want the real, live thing.

 

 

I am in LOVE

Nehru

If Jagdeo is cautioning Bheri, isn't that kind of sad that Jagdeo is the holier one. Wow!  The PPP's moral credentials are seriously at rock bottom.

 

But I say, let Jagdeo, Chat-3 and Bheri keep talking and often.

 

We in the Coalition need all the help we can get, and these 3 fellows have helped us enormously.

FM

The PPP/C would have been better off by firing this Scumbag of a Health Minister, as this is not the first time, he has so brazenly assault a woman.

Some months ago it was in the news that he abused a young reporter. This ass whole will never learn.

 

By keeping him on, this reflects on the PPP/C.

 

Will not be surprised if they fire his ass very soon.

FM

Why does Freddy openly write that this man is a bi-sexual, as if that's common knowledge. Is that true?

 

And why did Bheri say he can get his ladies to strip her?  Does the PPP now have "sharper steel" than Burnham.

FM

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