Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 27, 2015 Letters
Dear Editor,
An appeal goes out to all women to come out in solidarity with our sister Sherlina Nageer and call for the resignation of Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran. As Minister of Health, he, more than most, knows that health is not just dealing with the physical but also includes the spiritual, which deals with thoughts and emotions and in that whatever is within will come forth. When Dr. Ramsaran told Ms. Nageer that she was a piece of sh#t, then threatened to slap her and further humiliate her by having women of the PPP strip her, exemplifies the case.
Dr. Ramsaran, a man whom I know as a fellow parliamentarian, is arrogant and intolerant to opposing views. His disrespect towards Ms. Nageer, which thankfully was caught on tape, came as no surprise. Knowing the man, when I heard him apologise, I knew it was not sincere and given the next best opportunity he would have disrespected and abused Ms. Nageer again. This opportunity came a few days later at the Regional Health Officers meeting where he had another attack of his disease.
To look at a woman, whose only threat was exercising her constitutional right to free speech in conducting her civic duty, by asking questions of a subject minister, and for him to dare think that it is OK to verbally abuse her and threaten physical abuse which will expose her nakedness is the ultimate form of disrespect.
This minister is not only contented to curse the lady but wanted to slap her then have her stripped naked which takes away the last shred of human dignity, a humiliation that is associated with the horror treatment received by female slaves. This is the crudest display of authority and power in the attempt to subjugate. This is disgusting in the 21st century and Dr. Ramsaran, a misogynist, must bow his head in shame and seek treatment for his disease, now!
To the PPP women who Dr. Ramsaran felt it was OK to use you to carry out his act of sickening humiliation to your sister, take note that he is being disrespectful of you and you need to walk away from a party that sees women as vessels of destruction to carry out their thuggery. As women we all know that dat ent no way to treat a lady, no way! We must speak out.
Dr. Ramsaran has a history. When Region 10 nurses and other health workers went to parliament to protest for their gratuity, said minister to avoid engaging the workers that make his ministry and society function drove past them with his tinted windows up.
As geographic MP when the non-payment of gratuity was raised in parliament and the minister was called on to respond, he made a sexist assertion to me, causing the Speaker to caution him. After the adjournment of parliament, I approached him in the MPs lounge to have a discussion on the matter and he responded by saying “get from in front of me child” which caused me to deal with him appropriately.
Ms. Nageer is applauded for not accepting the lip service apology of Dr. Ramsaran and I am sure she felt vindicated when in a matter of days he called her “miscreant” and “misguided.” PPP/C prime ministerial candidate Mrs. Elisabeth Harper is also applauded for condemning Dr. Ramsaran’s statements and I now call on her to join me in condemning Mr. Jagdeo for locking his wife out of the presidential suite, denying her food, clothes, money, vehicle, and driving fear into persons not to support her foundation that caused families and their sick children of Guyana to suffer more. Women must come together in condemnation of this high tech abuser.
In the meantime, observation is taken that former President Jagdeo, now private citizen, has condemned Dr. Ramsaran’s statements and sought to use the opportunity to project a gentlemanly persona, claiming that he never physically abused a woman. It must be noted however, he never denied locking Ms. Singh out of the presidential suite, denying her money, food and clothing and threatening others not to support her Kids First Fund Foundation. This man, in using the diseased situation of Dr. Ramsaran to offer condemnation of abuse towards women must likewise do right for his victim.
I maintain it was damn wrong what Mr. Jagdeo did to Ms. Singh. He should have been charged and sentenced, and having escaped this he must publicly apologise and properly compensate the victim. He is the richest former head of government in the Caribbean and can afford to pay a hefty alimony. And for the years of pain and suffering he caused the victim, a price tag must be put to it. Mrs. Harper must also join with me in doing right by a sister.
President Donald Ramotar in rebuking Dr. Ramsaran, must now do the honourable thing and rebuke Mr. Jagdeo on his case and Attorney General Anil Nandlall in his sexist remarks toward a Kaieteur News’ female reporter in sexgate conversation with him and reporter Gildharie. President Ramotar must go the distance in his rebuke and not be selective when condemning these acts.
Abuse of women will only stop when we together get men to understand that it is not a do what you want with me or do what you feel with me and you can get away with it. We are all Ms. Nageer and must raise our voices. We are known to have mouth and we must speak! Let our men hear from us that enough is enough. We must no longer sit nor stand and accept any high tech or low tech abuse. I hope Mr. Jagdeo, Dr. Ramasaran and all the other abusers are listening.
Women have come a long way. In 21st century Guyana we must demonstrate zero tolerance for any man- kinship or otherwise- who dares to think that he can abuse us and we must go into a corner and like ill-treated dogs put our tail between our legs. Utter nonsense! It is time to make it happen for us.
Vanessa Kissoon
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
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