Chris Ram holds no significant post with Gov’t – Harmon

By Bibi Khatoon

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on Friday called on Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram to discontinue all contracts his company has entered into with the Government if he is serious about his resignation.

Ram tendered his resignation from all-government related posts on Tuesday (October 24, 2017) in protest of the unilateral appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice James Patterson.

He said the blatant disregard by the Granger Administration for the Constitution, the courts, the principles of good governance and for social cohesion, is a matter which should be of grave concern to all claim respect and love of country.

In an invited comment at the Civil Defense Commission (CDC) Headquarters on Friday, Harmon told media operatives that Ram is of no significance to the Government.

“Mr Ram hasn’t resigned from anything. Mr Ram was working on some committee that has no pecuniary benefits, with the Attorney General. If Mr Ram wants to resign from anything, I would ask him to consider all of the contracts which the company in which he is, that has to do with any Government agency, or the government, and let him withdraw from those. That is when you will know if in fact, he is making a very serious decision,” the State Minister said.

Ram was the leader of the planning committee of the Guyana negotiating team for the establishment of the JOF Haynes Law School here.

Ram’s resignation followed that of Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh, who serves as Adviser to President David Granger and on various state boards.

In relation to Major General Singh’s resignation letter which asked that his contract not be renewed at the end of the year, Harmon said he does “not see any ulterior motive behind it.”

He further disclosed that “the letter has been sent to the President for him to consider. It’s one-month notice which he has given for the contract to be terminated so that is being done. I said once the President considers the matter and he decides on it, I would wish Major General Singh all the best in his future endeavours.”

The Major General was listed as a nominee for the post of GECOM Chair on the third list while Christopher Ram’s name was submitted in the first list. Granger, however, rejected the lists on the grounds that the nominees were not “fit and proper.”