WOMEN have been clamouring for equal rights within societal constructs, with a great deal of justification. However, some activists have taken their right to those rights to a whole new level, whereby they presume those rights confer on them unlimited privileges without responsibility.Within the hostile socio-political dynamics preluding any elections in Guyana, some media operatives and activists affiliated to Opposition groups accosting and accusing Government Ministers and other public officials in highly offensive, bordering on abusive language, has become a norm.

Taken within this context, Government Ministers and officials, as well as supporters of the ruling party are cognisant that they are within constant public scrutiny; thus it is paramount that their behaviour at all times reflect the guiding principles of the political party and Government they represent.

The recent imbroglio involving Health Minister Dr Bheri Ramsaran and a known character could have been avoided, because the Minister knows well this character and her motives and agenda. He was well aware of the contretemps that would be precipitated from his engaging her at any level, much less to the abusive level her harassment engendered, which was probably the intent behind Sherlina Nageer’s attack while he was being interviewed by media operatives – on camera at that.

Having been long in the political fray, Minister Ramsarran was aware of the impending consequences to himself and the Government he serves when he allowed himself to be provoked into responding to what amounted to Nageer’s rude interruption of his interview and her badgering – tantamount to bullying pejoratives and accusations instead of walking away from the situation that was so fraught with negative implications for a Government Minister.

The abusive language with which Minister Ramsaran responded to Nageer’s tirade of accusations, that reportedly continued with incessant aggression even after the Minister had provided the answer on maternal deaths at public health institutions, was inexcusable and unacceptable, unbecoming of a public official, especially the Minister tasked with responsibility for Guyana’s health sector.

A murderer is viewed with more sympathy in the courts of law and the court of public opinion if he is proven to have committed the extreme act because of provocation. In such instances, the human equation and consequential reaction are taken into consideration.

However, the minutest transgression of social norms and expectancies by Government officials have no hope for understanding and/or forgiveness in Guyana’s socio-political landscape.

While women are conferred in this country, by way of legislative processes, with rights equal to male counterparts, like every right there are corresponding responsibilities. Accosting public officials, indeed anyone, in discourteous, offensive ways with unproven accusations that can impugn their character is no-one’s right.

Minister Bheri Ramsaran has received much censure, especially from the leadership of the governing party, including the President himself, for his abusive language to Sherlina Nageer, because his party has always espoused and propagated women’s rights in social constructs, and he has been a frontline fighter in his party and is fully aware of the core principles guiding his party and its adjunctive arms – the PYO and WPO.

That the adversarial conduct of Sherlina Nageer provoked his response is therefore no valid excuse for his responding abusive language.

However, one would hope that women in the society would act with some propriety and decorum and respect the fact that everyone has rights in this country we all call home. Women should be aware that the rights they today enjoy also come with responsibilities – one of which is to appreciate and respect the rights of other citizens, regardless of whomever they are.

The society needs to take cognisance that men are also victims in many instances and that females are sometimes the aggressors and catalysts of confrontational, adversarial engagements.

But we repeat that it is also incumbent on public officials to respect the office they hold and behave in ways that can bear public scrutiny at all times. The brickbats being thrown at Minister Ramsaran for his descent to the use of abusive language toward a female are well-deserved, as are the kudos he has received in the course of his service to this nation.

Minister Ramsaran has paid a high price for his loss of control in this instance, which has over-ridden all the many good things he has done – in an out of the health sector, to advance the cause of women.