Under mounting pressure from the international community and several local organisations, President Donald Ramotar on Wednesday fired his Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsarran over his slap and strip threats against a female rights activist, which was all caught on tape.
The Office of the President announced the firing in a short three paragraph statement on Wednesday morning.
“His Excellency President Donald Ramotar has named Dr Jennifer Westford to act as the Minister of Health.
Minister Bheri Ramsaran has since been relieved of his Ministerial duties following a meeting with the President.
The President reiterates his outrage at the verbal outbursts and insults uttered by the Minister recently.”
The United States, British and Canadian governments along with several local groups had condemned the remarks by the Health Minister against the women’s rights activist, Sherlina Nageer. At first, the President reprimanded the Minister, but as more and more condemnations poured in and the APNU+AFC started to use the issue as a campaign issue, Ramotar decided it was time to let the Minister go.
Two Monday’s ago, the Health Minister who has described himself as “the Bheri Best”, went on a verbal rant against the women’s rights activist threatening to slap and strip her, after she repeatedly questioned him about the high number of cases of maternal deaths.
At one stage, he told the activist to “eff off” as he called her an idiot for interrupting his roadside conversation with some Berbice reporters.
He later apologised for the remarks but one day after the apology, he was recorded at a Health Officials meeting berating the activist again and telling the officials that she was a miscreant who needed psychiatric help.
Ramsarran served as a junior Health Minister for a number of years but was promoted to Health Minister following the 2011 elections.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login