Ramotar “feels sorry” for Bheri because he was “set up and entrapped”
Asked about his personal views on the "slap and strip" remarks that the Ramsarran made against the activist, the President said "It is very clear that he was provoked. I know him and I know that he is a very kind person and I know he has high regards for people and their rights, and he has a record as a political fighter for human rights, freedoms and many and many of these things".
Two days after firing his Health Minister over his verbal attacks on a women’s rights activist, President Donald Ramotar is convinced that the Minister was “set up” and was “entrapped” by the activist and therefore he feels sorry for him.
In a preview of an interview on radio programme, “Hard Talk with Christopher Chapwanya”, which will air this Sunday, President Ramotar appeared remorseful over his decision to send the Minister home.
“While I did what I had to do, I still feel sorry for him in a way, because it was clear that he was set up and it was a deliberate attempt to set him up and to frame him up, because probably they knew of his temperament and they played on that”, Ramotar told the talk show host.
Throughout the interview, Ramotar said he believed that the former Minister was “set up” and allowed himself to be entrapped. He praised the former Health Minister and PPP Candidate as a human rights activist and someone who respects everyone
Asked about his personal views on the “slap and strip” remarks that the Ramsarran made against the activist, the President said “It is very clear that he was provoked. I know him and I know that he is a very kind person and I know he has high regards for people and their rights, and he has a record as a political fighter for human rights, freedoms and many and many of these things”.
Fired Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsarran
“I think he just allowed himself to be entrapped and then you know, continue to make the mistake again. He got carried away with these issues”.
During the recorded confrontation, Dr. Ramsarran could be heard calling the women’s rights activist, Sherlina Nageer, “a piece of sh%t” and an idiot who he would “slap up” or have his women “strip” in the public.
When the host pressed the President about the second set of remarks Dr. Ramsarran made against the same women’s rights activist even after issuing an apology for the earlier remarks, the President sought to throw blame at the media for highlighting the issue.
“He claims it was taken out of context and I think it has taken a life of its own because and maybe this is where the opposition media probably got the jump on him and got the maximum thing on him”
Ramsarran called the activist a miscreant who was in need of psychiatric help, while he addressed a gathering of regional health officials, the day after issuing an apology for his recorded remarks. The second set of remarks were also recorded and sent to media houses.
President Ramotar on Wednesday announced that he had relieved the Minister of his duties. That decision came one week after the statements of the Minister were first reported in the local press and the audio recording was made available.
The President said it took him that long to fire the Minister because of the political campaign taking place and him (the President), being out of town.
There were several calls made by local and international groups for the President to fire the Minister. Additionally, the governments of the United States, Great Britain and Canada openly condemned the statements made by Ramsarran.
