Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 20, 2017 Letters
Dear Editor,
Once again Mr. Bharat Jagdeo has by his utterances established that he is the worst thing short of a nuclear bomb that could ever happen to Guyana. Jagdeo accused the Director and officers at SARU of ‘shaking down businessmen’. Any right thinking person knows that Jagdeo only gets noticed when he creates hysteria using baseless fake news. Nothing of substance is ever uttered by this poor excuse of a national leader.
Correctly, Mr. Retemyer the SARU Director challenged him to a polygraph test. Typical of the man, he runs from the challenge and resorts to cussing down Mr. Retemyer from a distance. I have known Mr. Retemyer personally, worked with him for a number of years and will vouch for his character every day and twice on Sundays. I wonder how many people other than Jagdeo’s lackeys, cronies and other dependents would vouch for his character.
Mr. Retemyer’s record and reputation speak for themselves, but in the interest of exposing Mr. Jagdeo’s lies, and not allowing him to besmirch yet another true Guyanese patriot, I will set the record straight and expose his recent vulgar rant to the Guyanese populace. Mr. Retemyer is a former distinguished member of the Guyana Defence Force, and served that organization for a number of years rising to a very senior level. During this time Mr. Retemyer obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Guyana, eventually commanding the Army’s Corp of Engineers. While Jagdeo’s elder PPP cohorts were burning sugar cane fields, and damaging Guyana’s reputation internationally, Mr. Retemyer was toiling to build this nation. For personal reasons he migrated to the United States, and pursued a Master’s Degree in Education.
Mr. Retemyer gained a New York State Education Department license as a permanent Mathematics educator and was subsequently hired as a Mathematics teacher at two highly regarded public schools in Brooklyn, New York. He served a stint the chair of the Mathematics department, and voluntarily gave it up to revert to the classroom. During his tenure as a Mathematics educator, Mr. Retemyer was involved in social-emotional programs at the schools he worked at to improve the livelihood of less fortunate students at those institutions.
I worked with Mr. Retemyer side by side at a public school in Brooklyn, and witnessed his intellectual acumen, passion for human development, and commitment to social justice. So Mr. Jagdeo, this man you speak of was never a security guard in the United States, as you falsely and maliciously claims. The only thing he ever guarded was the lives, hearts, minds, and brains of the young people entrusted in his care. Now he is the security guard for the state assets, so you and your fellow travelers should run scared as he is incorruptible. Please tell us if you are.
Mr. Retemyer is a staunch member of the religious fraternity, and lives firmly by its ethos. Through this and other non-governmental partnerships he and his team make annual trips to Africa and execute developmental projects. For example, on a trip to Ghana in 2012, Mr. Retemyer and team were busy promoting investment opportunities for small scale businessmen in the Caribbean and the diaspora. While I am not sure of the results of the venture the sterling intent and effort speaks for itself.
On the personal side Mr. Retemyer is known to be satisfied with a modest existence. Since his days of serving in the Guyana Defence Force, he purchased a home in one of the housing schemes developed during the reign of the People’s National Congress, and he resides in the same home up to this day. He made continuous improvements to this home while living abroad and stayed in that home while he traveled to Guyana annually. He lives in that home up to today. Let Jagdeo speak publicly about how he acquired his mansions. Mr. Retemyer also purchased a home in New York while working over there, and that is the same property he owns up to today. Mr. Retemyer drives the same car he bought and drove in New York some eight years ago. Contrary to Jagdeo’s rants, Mr. Retemyer is by no means a geriatric. He had the option to continue working in the United States, but opted to retire early and serve his country. He is not interested in living the life of a fat cat since he refused to pursue administration in education for which he was eminently qualified to do.
It is a fact that the salary he receives as the SARU Director, is but a mere fraction of what he earns in retirement benefits and other personal investments. Only a madman would conclude that Mr. Retemyer’s intention is to use SARU for personal enrichment. Jagdeo also needs to be reminded that Mr. Retemyer retired and remigrated to Guyana long before the APNU/AFC victory at the polls. Yes, he loves Guyana so much he returned under the PPP’s rapacious regime.
So Mr. Jagdeo, you will not get away with this one. Neither you nor any of your underlings can match Mr. Retemyer’s intellect, integrity, and commitment to human development. Find a corner rumshop to cuss down.
Either you accept the challenge to do the polygraph or not! If you are so sure that the man is corrupt, bring your evidence. Name the businessmen that he and his colleagues shook down! Take it to the police! Put up or shut up! In the meantime we can also ask Jagdeo to explain Pradoville, ghost employees at Office of the President, and the disappearance of billions in state assets. We can understand why he is running scared…the power of SARU is near!
Jerrick Rutherford jr.
East Orange
New Jersey
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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