There is no basis for Nandlall to resign – Rohee suggests

 

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – General Secretary of the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Minister with responsibility for the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Clement Rohee has suggested that there is no basis for Attorney General, Anil Nandall to resign or be fired.

Such calls have dominated the local press over the last week, coming from all sections of society including the legal fraternity and the political spectrum, after a phone conversation between Nandlall and a reporter went public.

The recording reportedly contains violent threats against the Publisher of the local daily Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall and his staff.

When asked about how he felt about these calls, Rohee said the basis for these calls must be looked at. He told reporters at the Party’s weekly press conference this morning (Monday, November 03) that if the basis is founded on the perception that is formed in the media, then he himself should have stepped down a long time now; recalling that “the media had developed a basis for me to step down.”

When asked directly if he is suggesting that there is absolutely no foundation for the Minister to step down following the conversation which has widely been described as unethical, profanity laced and threatening, Rohee said: “there is a police investigation and I think certain matters are also before the Court and the government has issued a statement and we want the government to hold firmly to its position.”

The administration, including President Donald Ramotar has shunned calls for Nandlall to be removed saying the AG was illegally taped. No one, not even the AG himself, has addressed the contents of what was said, only to say that it is subject to police investigation.

Rohee said today that he would be “disappointed” if the government accedes to what he described as “blackmailing tactics”.

Rohee dodged questions when asked for his judgment on ethicalness of what was said by the AG.

“I followed the interventions made on this issue very closely and all that have been said is bias and negative and aimed at lynching Nandlall… the only balanced statement seen so far is the one issued by the government.”

The PPP GS outlined 12 points during the 19 minute conversation which he said is being completely ignored.

“I don’t want to fuel that school of thought,” Rohee said when asked about whether the AG, who has avoided the media, has any information of an imminent threat against the media house and its staff.

He maintained that the police and Courts should be allowed to do their work; adding that he is unaware that this fiasco has damaged the Party/government’s integrity in any way.

“If any damage was done, I’m sure we will recover… we have weathered storms worse than this before,” he said as he maintained his support for the AG.