…says investment in party didn’t pay off

By Nafeeza Yahya
THE Alliance for Change linchpin in the Corentyne Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya has tendered his resignation from the party for the second time – this time declaring that his protest against corruption is falling on deaf ears and that his investments in the fledgling party have not paid off.It is the second time Ramayya has resigned from the party- the first time he had complained about the position offered him following the APNU/AFC victory at the polls. He was persuaded to stay on and then offered the post as Regional Executive Officer of Region Six- a position which he has resigned from.

In a letter addressed to David Patterson, General Secretary of the AFC and dated September 13th, 2016 Dr. Ramayya explained that “My contribution and investments did not resonate deeply into the party. Hereby my six years of constructive efforts and time spent rewarded those who are the beneficiaries. Today, I have no remorse to exit myself from the party, because I am self–assertive and strong minded-individual who always crusade with uncompromising principles because the party fails to deliver.”

He added, during the campaign season corruption was highly politicised and at present everyone has turned a blind eye. Dr.Ramayya told this publication, for all the years he had always stood against corruption and it was promised that the party would fight to eradicate it. He said it is happening presently and he cannot accept that. “Honestly I don’t think I was treated as an executive member of the party the five year plus that I have given them was a great sacrifice on my part financially and with my time and effort with the television programme and going door to door…”

Meanwhile, Dr.Ramayya said he is disappointed that the money he spent in 2011 and 2015 was not returned. He mentioned he spent more than $15M of which he was merely given $5.5. “Recently I have sent 6 letters out from the President downwards asking them if I would be reimbursed for the money I spent in 2015 three weeks and no one had the courtesy to acknowledge my letter and further to that in 2011 although I received $5.5 M the election cost Region 6 over $20M… Today I find that people who have not invested more for this new government are reaping the benefit,” Ramayya said.

“This election was not won in 2015 this election was won in 2011 and it happened because of Ramayya and I take pride in saying that …the twenty something years being on television and being out there warranted that victory today for this coalition to come on board it is very striking that when people make claims that they have done this and that I want to know if they come after 2015 they came from the moon.” He went on to question that the 40% that was promised based on the Cummingsburg Accord.

“Where is the forty percent and I ask our leadership to show me where is the 40% in Berbice? People who work so hard they can’t find a job and is left with no alternative but to tell the hierarchy in the party that Ramayyah had enough!…I have no malice. I am not a person who will compromise my principles because many times I was told people are complaining that they are not getting jobs and I even told the PM I don’t have to give anybody jobs they have to go through the tender board; there are evaluators and it has to go through that process.” He said however that there is still hope for the return of true democracy as he will continue the fight for such.

Dr.Ramayya is of the view that the coalition government is not fulfilling its promise to the people of the country, which is to work in their interest. He believes that they care more about themselves. “I don’t think the President knows everything that goes on so I want to shift blame to the party that I represent and with everything that was published not a day anyone made an effort to contact me to ask why this is so, or why this person is saying so …my stopping is not here; the ship is still sailing and the ship is well taken care of in that sense. I will continue to say it; I have determination; I have strong belief in my God that things will happen and I know Guyana will be restored to its true democracy that we gain in 1992.”