President did accuse Ramjattan of taking info to US embassy
-Nagamootoo
Stabroek News
February 12, 2004
Central Committee (CC) member of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) Moses Nagamootoo says that President Bharrat Jagdeo did accuse attorney and fellow CC member Khemraj Ramjattan of giving information to the US Embassy.
Nagamootoo's statement dated February 10 is the latest salvo in a battle of words over what exactly Ramjat-tan was accused of at a CC meeting held at the Freedom House headquarters of the PPP on January 31.
President Jagdeo through his Information Liaison Robert Persaud on Sunday told Stabroek News that he had not accused Ramjattan of passing information to the US, British and Canadian missions here. He was at the time responding to a report in Saturday's edition of the Stabroek News which had said that he had accused Ramjattan of passing information to the three missions. Ramjattan has since told Stabroek News that he was accused by Jagdeo of passing information to the US embassy only and not the British and Canadian high commissions. Stabroek News regrets the error in the Saturday edition report.
Nagamootoo's statement yesterday supported what Ramjattan said. "I was at the meeting when President Jagdeo made the accusation (against Ramjattan). He did name the US Embassy", Nagamootoo said.
Nagamootoo added that when he heard that PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar had denied that the accusation had been made against Ramjattan, he telephoned Ramotar on February 6 telling him that he could not support the denial as he himself had heard it. Last night, the PPP reiterated Ramotar's position. In a statement it said that Ramotar in a television interview had categorically stated that no member of the CC during the January 31 meeting, including President Jagdeo, had accused Ramjattan of "giving information to any foreign embassy or mission". The PPP said it will issue a fuller account of this matter shortly.
Nagamootoo in his contribution said "I am forced to make this statement in the interest of our party. Comrade Bharrat Jagdeo, who is the sitting President of our Republic, and all other party leaders should be careful about what they say before the Central Committee. Irreparable harm could be done by `loose statements', and imputations of treachery against leading members".
Nagamootoo, who himself has been at odds with some party members over his announcement that he will challenge President Jagdeo for the PPP presidential nomination at the 2006 general elections, added "I regret that we have come to this: to attacking party leaders in public, making brash accusations against each other, leaking inner-party discussions to the media, and making rebuttals and counter-rebuttals in public. This might be a defining moment for us all when more critical issues should demand that we close ranks".
He called for an end to public attacks. "In the interest of our party, we must adhere to the high standards of behaviour, which are required by our rules and code of conduct. We must aim for the closest unity in our leadership. We owe this as party leaders/members, and to our dear Comrade Cheddi Jagan, who taught us to exercise discipline, restraint, maturity and wisdom in all that we do", Nagamootoo urged.
Nagamootoo also expressed concern that the integrity of the January 31 meeting had been breached as information had been leaked to the media even while the session was in progress.
Ramjattan is currently before a disciplinary hearing of the PPP in relation to remarks contained in a column published in the Stabroek News. He appeared before the hearing on February 6 but no final decision was reached. He left the CC meeting of January 31 after some leading PPP members said they were uncomfortable with his presence there.