THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended charges against another member of the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government.Yesterday Crime Chief Wendel Blanhum confirmed to this newspaper that the Chambers of the DPP has recommended one charge against former Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsarran for threatening comments he made against women’s rights activists, Sherlina Nageer in April.
The former Health Minister is expected to be escorted to the Whim Magistrates Court by the police sometime today to answer the charge, even as police sources would not confirm if the matter would be called today or tomorrow.
In April, while outside the Whim Magistrates Court, the then Minister of Health threatened to strip and slap the activist for the fun of it after she had questioned him in relation to several maternal deaths and other developments within the health sector.
A recording of the threats which were also laced with profanity was quickly uploaded to social media sites and prompted outrage from a wide cross- section of the society and also saw the PPP being pressured into distancing itself from the claims of the minister.
The minister was then fired a few days before the elections after he had publicly apologised for his remarks, but again sought to degrade the same activist while addressing residents in another region.
The move apparently angered then President Donald Ramotar who felt the developments embarrassed his Administration and placed the party at a disadvantage at the national elections which were just days away.
The firing of the minister was however not sufficient for some who felt that the minister needed to be charged for his remarks. Dr. Ramsarran and his colleague, former Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford who appeared in court yesterday for transferring state vehicles to herself and associates, are still among the names of persons to represent the PPP/C in the National Assembly whenever they decide to take up their seats in Parliament.
Yesterday, police sources in Berbice said that they were not aware that the former minister would have charges coming his way as recommended by the DPP, nor were they aware that he is likely to appear in court today or tomorrow.