Dear Editor,
This is an open letter to President Irfaan Ali and Vice Present Bharrat Jagdeo as well as the top leaders of the PPP.
In recent days, there was social media post being widely circulated of what purported to be a private conversation between Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall and female supporter of the ruling party.
In that conversation, the minister allegedly invited the female to his bedroom and even proposed to host her at a local hotel and one in the US.
Shockingly, to prove how much he wants to have a sexual relationship with the female, the minister allegedly took a photo of his private parts and sent it to the woman.
The woman, in turn, apparently did not take kindly to the attention of the minister and shared screenshots of the conversation. She accused the minister of being a predator, and alleged that the minister, a married man, hunts and preys on females who likes and follows social media posts of the minister’s works.
The purported conversations and images are in the hands of parliamentarians and even the PPP leadership but there have been little said about it.
In developed countries, the minister, once it was proven, would have been forced to apologies and even resign.
In Guyana, it cannot be so as it is another day in the lives of Guyanese. It can be interpreted that the PPP which campaigned on a clean and reformed government, is not willing to address this alleged predatory behavior.
Mr. Editor, it can also be concluded this is a norm.
I am not aware that President Ali and VP Jagdeo would be willing to sweep this under the carpet.
This is not the modern Guyana we are pushing for. These alleged posts, if proven, speak of a predator, which uses his office to take advantage.
We have adopted world accepted principles to protect our vulnerable, including women and children.
Here is a chance for the PPP to prove it is good for its word.
We cannot want to be a Dubai and want to cover-up these incidents.
This is totally shocking and unacceptable.
In this day of social media and the information age, the people are less inclined to tolerate these behaviors from our leaders.
Nigel Dharamlall has been accused in the past of using his office to target young Amerindian girls from the hinterlands.
Recently, his dildo-gate comments in the National Assembly were felt to be directed to a female MP.
His neighbors in Cummings Lodge would attest to being forced to rescue his wife from constant abuse. His wife, Monica, suffered a fractured skull.
He was accused of using his office to oversee contracts to his son who has a media and advertising company. He is also being accused of handing contracts to his friends.
We wait to see how this government responds.
It is shocking that the Women and Gender commission, Red Thread, the Guyana Human Rights Association and others, include Article 13, remain mum.
Ayube T Khan.
