Commissioner of Information Charles Ramson said that while the opposition seemed to be concerned over his monthly income, he believed that he deserved way more. His comments come on the heels of a recent revelation that he earns a gross monthly income of Gy$1.2 million.
Justice Ramson told Guyana Times International on Wednesday that he was not at all troubled by the comments made by opposition members, regarding his salary or the work of the commission. This is especially, since he believes that the salary is somewhat inadequate for the post and the work of the commission is likely to kick start soon. “It’s not very welcoming for people to be making remarks about salary and allowances. In fact, I can claim to be underpaid. Because if I had remained the AG [Attorney General], my salary would have been much larger than it is now,” he said. The former legal affairs minister added that he does not receive benefits like a minister.
Ramson noted that had he been in private practice as an attorney, he would have made way more than he is currently working for. He said he was called out of retirement to serve and he will do exactly that. In responding to a recent article that sought to bring him in line with the head of the e-governance project and son of the president, Alexi Ramotar, Ramson said, “I don’t think it’s fair to compare that young man’s expertise to the work I do.”
In providing an update on the work of the commission, Justice Ramson said: “Imperceptibly, we have been making a lot of progress, but it takes time, because it’s such a new dispensation.” No request for information is yet in receipt of the commission. The commissioner said that nothing like this existed before and the ministries are not prevented from giving information to the public. Rather, the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, which was passed in September 2011, has added a next tier, where the commission is responsible for ensuring that those agencies deal fairly with requests from members of the public.
Justice Ramson told Guyana Times International he is of the belief that persons responsible for supplying the commission with information are not aware of the statutory partnership created by the Act. He explained that the president has the power to remove him from office based on the same laws that govern the removal of a judge from his seat. Basically, he can only be removed from office for wrongdoing or a legal conviction.
It was further noted that the commission only received a few days ago, a copy of an electronic disk for work to be done. However, this information was requested since August.
Asked about whether there are provisions for educating the public about the work of the commission, Justice Ramson said the process has started and is likely to expand. “Provision is made for that and I have the power to do so, but it must reach a stage where publication has been made in the Official Gazette and in a daily newspaper, so that the public can become aware that certain things are a prerequisite for an understanding of the act.”
As it relates to the staffing of his office, Justice Ramson hinted that his two full-time employees may not be competent enough to carry out the job. He referred to a recent statement made by Guyanese Professor and Vice Chancellor of the University of West Indies Mona Campus (Jamaica), Nigel Harris, that students graduating from that university have not been able to apply themselves to the job. This, he said, is a problem being experienced here too. “Some of them are not functionally literate,” he added.
Based on a request from Alliance For Change Member of Parliament Cathy Hughes, Ramson’s salary was revealed. The former AG was sworn in as commissioner of information on July 15, 2013.
