Press Release – 26th February, 2010
For immediate release
In the National Assembly this afternoon Chairman of the AFC, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, MP apologized to the Speaker and the staff of the National Assembly for imputing the accuracy of the parliamentary Hansard. The apology was accepted by the Prime Minister on behalf of the government benches, however, Ms Gail Tiexiera, Presidential Advisor on Governance queried Mr. Ramjattan’s serious accusation against the Minister of Housing in his statement to the Assembly to wit, ‘I have listened to the tape and listened to it several times. I have compared that with the Hansard and they both correspond. The Hansard has not been tampered with. Rather as it has turned out the Minister was not representing the truth in the Assembly, a matter which surely will be resolved in a couple of minute’s time.’ The request was granted when Mr. Ramjattan agreed to have the passage deleted from the records of the day’s proceedings.
Mr. Ramjattan stands by the following attachment:
Indeed the complete comment he made, which created the furore was “It is either the Hansard has been tampered with or the Minister of Housing was not truthful in the Honourable Assembly. Either of which is a tragedy for out democracy.”
Please find attached the letter of apology read in the National Assembly this afternoon, however, he agreed with the request of the Speaker that certain portions be altered on grounds of length and being too political.
End
Mr Ramjatta’s Statement of Apology to the National Assembly
25th February, 2010
The Honourable Speaker of the
National Assembly
Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, S.C.
Mr. Speaker, on the 11th January, 2010, there was what occurred in this Parliament a most robust Session when questions on the Supplementary allocation of $4B were being put to Honourable Minister, Irfan Alli.
I immediately became suspicious of some of the answers he gave, and his non-answers when at one point he ceased answering questions from Mr. Murray and myself.
It was against this background that I requested a member of Your Honour’s staff a copy of the Hansard for that Session. I was informed that I will get same in a couple of days time. I got same only on the 18th February, 2010. This lateness, which has now been explained to me, also gave cause for some suspicion, which as it has turned out to be was wholly unwarranted.
I, like all other members of the National Assembly were served with three (3) volumes of the Estimates on Budget Day and in the Project Profile Volume relating to the said $4B, it is clearly stated that the $4B under question was indeed spent in the year 2009.
The Hansard which I obtained from the Clerk, however, reflected that the Minister did not spend same in 2009. it is against this background that I understood the honourable Minister to say what I recall he said e.i “We already”, instead of what he actually said which was “We are ready.”
My suspicion was that ‘we already’ had been changed to ‘we are ready’. This suspicion and my charge were made in good faith, not with malicious intent.
The investigation by Your Honour on this matter after I made the charge two (2) days ago, most reassuringly was conducted very expeditiously.
The premature carrying forth to the press before the investigation was completed was in error. I humbly apologise. However, if the full report of my interview had been carried it would have shown that the discrepancy I alluded to could have been accounted for by other factors but these mitigating circumstances were not carried.
I have listened to the tape and listened to it several times. I have compared that with the Hansard and they both correspond. Hansard has not been tampered with.
I want to sincerely apologise for the concern and stress I have caused yourself and your staff, Mr. Speaker. I always had tremendous respect for the integrity of your staff and so will it be in future. As a matter of fact this incident has heightened my respect for them. My charge was indeed serious, and has not been proven. I apologise for that because indeed as reported, more than as against what was said by me, the integrity of Parliament’s record keeping was under attack. I take the blame for that, and will shoulder same henceforth.
Comments are closed