HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, acknowledged that wire-tapping is done in Guyana, but made it clear that this is only done in relation to criminal investigations.Responding to recent comments made by Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan that his personal phone had being tapped, the HPS made the following remarks at yesterday’s press briefing held at the Office of the President: “I don’t know what possessed the AFC leader to say that….He has no basis to think that the Government of Guyana and a telecommunication company is engaged in unauthorised tapping of his phone or (that of) any other Guyanese.”
Dr Luncheon said any wiretapping being done in Guyana “fully subscribes” to the provisions of the legal framework that authorises such acts. He added that while governments in other countries are caught up in controversial issues relative to wiretapping, Guyana does not subscribe to unauthorised wiretapping.
Ramjattan’s contention spiralled from a disagreement he has with Housing & Water Minister, Irfaan Ali. Responding to the wiretapping comments, Minister Ali said: “As Housing and Water Minister, I am unaware that the Government has instructed the tapping of Ramjattan’s phone or those belonging to the ministry.
“Additionally, the AFC’s attempt to draw extraneous matters in relation to the wiretapping of phones, legality of the same and other security issues has not escaped my attention.”
Minister Ali’s exact words uttered to the media were: “We are hoping that we can make a request of GT&T to have a recording of this also”. He said this comment was made in direct relation to “Ramjattan’s wanton and dastardly attack on an ordinary and innocent public servant in my office.”
Accordingly, Minister Ali said he wishes to dismiss the AFC’s scaremongering and lack of political maturity and integrity.
“The (AFC) party has shown that it lacks the ability to justify its public positions by advancing evidence and facts that could stand the test of scrutiny. The press statement by the AFC (yesterday) also exposes its unwillingness to upbraid its members who hold high offices when their conduct is less than favourable and appropriate,” Minister Ali said.
Minister Ali says he stands by his earlier statements on Ramjattan’s lies and distortions, as well as by the earlier statements on his attack on the public servant.
“I therefore, reiterate a call for Mr. Ramjattan to issue an immediate apology for his lawless, loud, abusive, unprofessional, unethical, immoral, and highly offensive abuse of a public servant. This is the only ethical and moral thing that any human can do for such an abuse of power,” the minister declared.
The minister maintained that no amount of dodging, shifting of the goal posts, smokescreen, red herrings or other distractions will cover the wrong that Ramjattan has done.