STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA
Dear Editors:
...
KING LIARS: LIE, YOU HEAR LIES?
LIE NO. 1: Donald Ramotar said that I was a candidate of Balram Singh Rai’s Justice Party in 1964, and I helped to remove the PPP from office:
THAT’S A LIE: I was 17 years old in 1964. The Voting Age was 21. I was too young to be on the Voters’ List; too young to vote. How on earth could I have been a candidate for any party?
I joined the PPP on the 3rd October, 1964, and served for an unbroken period until my resignation in September, 2011.
In 1991, I was conferred with a Meritorious Award for serving the PPP with distinction continuously for over 25 years. That Certificate was signed by Cheddi Jagan and Donald Ramotar!
LIE NO. 2: Donald Ramotar said that in 1976 I was about to join the PNC along with Ranji Chandisingh, Vincent Teekah, Halim Majeed, et al.
THAT’S A LIE!
During 1975-1977 Cheddi Jagan advocated “Talks” with the PNC, and I was in favour. Others who opposed cooperation, rigged the 1976 PYO elections to oust several “pro-talks” young leaders.
I was dissatisfied but never left the PPP even though inducements were made to me by L.F.S. Burnham, Chandisingh and others. Later, threats were used against me, but I refused to betray my leader and my party.
LIE NO. 3: Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar said I left PPP because I lost nomination as presidential candidate.
More Lies! I withdrew from the rigged process where party members were excluded from choosing a candidate. Ramotar was hand-picked by a gang within the Central Committee. I refused to appear before this body. I informed Ramotar on 18th January, 2011 that “the CC has no mandate to select a candidate. I now say emphatically that the exclusion of party members in selecting their presidential candidate is an irreversible and costly mistake”.
There was no election. Only a rigged selection.
LIE NO. 4: Jagdeo and Ramotar said that I lied when I reported and repeated that Cheddi Jagan had named me in November 1996 possibly as his successor.
More Lies.
On May 18, 2004 I reminded Donald Ramotar in a letter that “(T)here should be no myth about what Cheddi Jagan said at Lethem. I want to see Robert Persaud going on record on this issue. He was there!”
Jagdeo and Ramotar never before denied what Dr. Jagan said. Ramotar tried to give it a “twist”.
On 8th June, 2004, this is what Donald Ramotar wrote to me under the caption:
THE MENTION OF CDE CHEDDI OF YOUR NAME AS A POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR
“It is clear that Cde. Cheddi must have been saying that when he is no longer available the Party would be in good hands because it has capable leaders. He must have mentioned you in that context.”
Ramotar never denied what Cheddi Jagan said! He only gave it his own twist.
LIE NO. 5: Jagdeo said that one John Silas said to him that Cheddi Jagan never named me as his successor.
THAT’S A PUSSUR-PUSSUR LIE!
John Silas was NOT present at the Lethem meeting.
I am on record as writing Donald Ramotar, in his capacity as PPP General Secretary, that “he would have known, that upon my return to Georgetown, I was summoned to an emergency Executive Committee meeting at Freedom House. Party Organiser John Silas, who was not an ExCo member, was invited to the meeting, Comrade Janet demanded that I should explain “what happed at Lethem?”
“I related what Comrade Cheddi said, and my reaction to that by suppressing publication of the remarks that I could possibly be a replacement for him at the 1997 elections. I explained why I had an angry argument with the Organiser [John Silas] for being absent from the meeting, when the microphones broke down; how, when he told me that I had no authority to question him, I chided him for not hearing what Comrade Cheddi had said, and how I added sarcastically ‘You could be looking at the next president!’”
I added in my letter that “Comrade Cheddi was within hearing distance in the next room, while that brawl was going on…”.
That matter was never again raised in my presence with (President) Cheddi Jagan. I was to be at his side until the fatal day that he was flown out from Guyana during February 1997, only to die days later. He never denied what he had said at Lethem.
End of story.
LIE NO. 6: Jagdeo repeatedly said that I lied on Janet Jagan as she never promised that I should be Vice-President of Guyana.
MORE LIES: Twice when this issue came up, Ms. Jagan said she could not remember. At 80 plus, it is fine not to remember. But she never denied. She never said that I lied on her.
Mere days before her death, Ms. Jagan, my mentor as journalist, on 5th March, 2009, in her own handwriting, sent a note to me, with words of appreciation and fraternal affection. She took pain to scribble that note, telling me that her hand was in cast as she had broken her shoulder. Would she have done that if she felt that I had lied on her?
She had done so on many previous occasions, embracing my work as she did on 27th May, 2008 when she lauded my tribute to militant women in the Guyanese struggle: “I’m glad they were remembered, to take their rightful places in our political history,” she wrote to me.
LIE NO. 7: Ramotar said that I did nothing for the PPP in the last 10 years.
WHAT A LIE!
It is the same Ramotar who wrote me on 8th June, 2004 in great appreciation, saying: “Your suggestions and contributions to debates have always been valued and I and the Party leadership look forward to your continued contribution.”
And, more recently, on 21st July, 2006, he issued a press release, announcing: “The Executive Committee expects that Mr. Nagamootoo will shortly resume his useful role in the party.”
That was days before I delivered victory in the 2006 elections!
LIE NO. 8: Joey Jagan said that I am a soup drinker, a vagabond and opportunist.
KING LIAR!
What soup-drinker would leave a teaching job earning G$180.00 monthly in 1970 to work for $114.00 (just over 50 US cents) as journalist at Mirror, staying on for the next 22 years at the side of Janet Jagan, my editor?
Which soup-drinker and opportunist would remain loyally at the side of Cheddi Jagan in the PPP for the unbroken 28 years in opposition under Burnham, and then another 12 years under Bharrat, and completed the proverbial 40 wilderness years?
I resigned twice as Government Minister in 1993 and again in 2000. A ministerial portfolio held no soup for me.
I left the throne for the mudflat. I gave up privileges, perks and positions.
When I was in Cabinet, I opposed increase in Ministers’ salaries, but was out-voted. I refused national award when I was recommended by Cheddi Jagan. When I became Minister, I refused to leave my humble house to live in a state house. I never travelled on a first-class air ticket, nor stayed at hotels overseas at government’s expense.
I refused a $15,000,000.00 loan from Jagdeo to buy a personal Prado, and choose instead to drive around in a second-hand government jeep.
And, whilst I worked as journalist for a foreign agency between 1985 and 1992, I donated my entire salary to the PPP to help pay decent wages to party organisers.
I am humbled to have attracted such great attention for my life’s work. I wish I could have taken these garlands of thorns to my grave -- Judas, soup-drinker, traitor, neemakharaam, laurra, gutless, visionless, loser, vagabond, hypocrite, naga-dog, naga-goose, labaria, opportunist, ochro, etc..
EXCEPT, THESE ARE ALL LIES, DIRTY LIES!
Yours sincerely
Moses Nagamootoo
Dear Editors:
...
KING LIARS: LIE, YOU HEAR LIES?
LIE NO. 1: Donald Ramotar said that I was a candidate of Balram Singh Rai’s Justice Party in 1964, and I helped to remove the PPP from office:
THAT’S A LIE: I was 17 years old in 1964. The Voting Age was 21. I was too young to be on the Voters’ List; too young to vote. How on earth could I have been a candidate for any party?
I joined the PPP on the 3rd October, 1964, and served for an unbroken period until my resignation in September, 2011.
In 1991, I was conferred with a Meritorious Award for serving the PPP with distinction continuously for over 25 years. That Certificate was signed by Cheddi Jagan and Donald Ramotar!
LIE NO. 2: Donald Ramotar said that in 1976 I was about to join the PNC along with Ranji Chandisingh, Vincent Teekah, Halim Majeed, et al.
THAT’S A LIE!
During 1975-1977 Cheddi Jagan advocated “Talks” with the PNC, and I was in favour. Others who opposed cooperation, rigged the 1976 PYO elections to oust several “pro-talks” young leaders.
I was dissatisfied but never left the PPP even though inducements were made to me by L.F.S. Burnham, Chandisingh and others. Later, threats were used against me, but I refused to betray my leader and my party.
LIE NO. 3: Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar said I left PPP because I lost nomination as presidential candidate.
More Lies! I withdrew from the rigged process where party members were excluded from choosing a candidate. Ramotar was hand-picked by a gang within the Central Committee. I refused to appear before this body. I informed Ramotar on 18th January, 2011 that “the CC has no mandate to select a candidate. I now say emphatically that the exclusion of party members in selecting their presidential candidate is an irreversible and costly mistake”.
There was no election. Only a rigged selection.
LIE NO. 4: Jagdeo and Ramotar said that I lied when I reported and repeated that Cheddi Jagan had named me in November 1996 possibly as his successor.
More Lies.
On May 18, 2004 I reminded Donald Ramotar in a letter that “(T)here should be no myth about what Cheddi Jagan said at Lethem. I want to see Robert Persaud going on record on this issue. He was there!”
Jagdeo and Ramotar never before denied what Dr. Jagan said. Ramotar tried to give it a “twist”.
On 8th June, 2004, this is what Donald Ramotar wrote to me under the caption:
THE MENTION OF CDE CHEDDI OF YOUR NAME AS A POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR
“It is clear that Cde. Cheddi must have been saying that when he is no longer available the Party would be in good hands because it has capable leaders. He must have mentioned you in that context.”
Ramotar never denied what Cheddi Jagan said! He only gave it his own twist.
LIE NO. 5: Jagdeo said that one John Silas said to him that Cheddi Jagan never named me as his successor.
THAT’S A PUSSUR-PUSSUR LIE!
John Silas was NOT present at the Lethem meeting.
I am on record as writing Donald Ramotar, in his capacity as PPP General Secretary, that “he would have known, that upon my return to Georgetown, I was summoned to an emergency Executive Committee meeting at Freedom House. Party Organiser John Silas, who was not an ExCo member, was invited to the meeting, Comrade Janet demanded that I should explain “what happed at Lethem?”
“I related what Comrade Cheddi said, and my reaction to that by suppressing publication of the remarks that I could possibly be a replacement for him at the 1997 elections. I explained why I had an angry argument with the Organiser [John Silas] for being absent from the meeting, when the microphones broke down; how, when he told me that I had no authority to question him, I chided him for not hearing what Comrade Cheddi had said, and how I added sarcastically ‘You could be looking at the next president!’”
I added in my letter that “Comrade Cheddi was within hearing distance in the next room, while that brawl was going on…”.
That matter was never again raised in my presence with (President) Cheddi Jagan. I was to be at his side until the fatal day that he was flown out from Guyana during February 1997, only to die days later. He never denied what he had said at Lethem.
End of story.
LIE NO. 6: Jagdeo repeatedly said that I lied on Janet Jagan as she never promised that I should be Vice-President of Guyana.
MORE LIES: Twice when this issue came up, Ms. Jagan said she could not remember. At 80 plus, it is fine not to remember. But she never denied. She never said that I lied on her.
Mere days before her death, Ms. Jagan, my mentor as journalist, on 5th March, 2009, in her own handwriting, sent a note to me, with words of appreciation and fraternal affection. She took pain to scribble that note, telling me that her hand was in cast as she had broken her shoulder. Would she have done that if she felt that I had lied on her?
She had done so on many previous occasions, embracing my work as she did on 27th May, 2008 when she lauded my tribute to militant women in the Guyanese struggle: “I’m glad they were remembered, to take their rightful places in our political history,” she wrote to me.
LIE NO. 7: Ramotar said that I did nothing for the PPP in the last 10 years.
WHAT A LIE!
It is the same Ramotar who wrote me on 8th June, 2004 in great appreciation, saying: “Your suggestions and contributions to debates have always been valued and I and the Party leadership look forward to your continued contribution.”
And, more recently, on 21st July, 2006, he issued a press release, announcing: “The Executive Committee expects that Mr. Nagamootoo will shortly resume his useful role in the party.”
That was days before I delivered victory in the 2006 elections!
LIE NO. 8: Joey Jagan said that I am a soup drinker, a vagabond and opportunist.
KING LIAR!
What soup-drinker would leave a teaching job earning G$180.00 monthly in 1970 to work for $114.00 (just over 50 US cents) as journalist at Mirror, staying on for the next 22 years at the side of Janet Jagan, my editor?
Which soup-drinker and opportunist would remain loyally at the side of Cheddi Jagan in the PPP for the unbroken 28 years in opposition under Burnham, and then another 12 years under Bharrat, and completed the proverbial 40 wilderness years?
I resigned twice as Government Minister in 1993 and again in 2000. A ministerial portfolio held no soup for me.
I left the throne for the mudflat. I gave up privileges, perks and positions.
When I was in Cabinet, I opposed increase in Ministers’ salaries, but was out-voted. I refused national award when I was recommended by Cheddi Jagan. When I became Minister, I refused to leave my humble house to live in a state house. I never travelled on a first-class air ticket, nor stayed at hotels overseas at government’s expense.
I refused a $15,000,000.00 loan from Jagdeo to buy a personal Prado, and choose instead to drive around in a second-hand government jeep.
And, whilst I worked as journalist for a foreign agency between 1985 and 1992, I donated my entire salary to the PPP to help pay decent wages to party organisers.
I am humbled to have attracted such great attention for my life’s work. I wish I could have taken these garlands of thorns to my grave -- Judas, soup-drinker, traitor, neemakharaam, laurra, gutless, visionless, loser, vagabond, hypocrite, naga-dog, naga-goose, labaria, opportunist, ochro, etc..
EXCEPT, THESE ARE ALL LIES, DIRTY LIES!
Yours sincerely
Moses Nagamootoo
