…says “fit and able” to function as Minister in light of concerns over poor performance.
Amid concerns over the health condition of Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and whether he can effectively carry out his function as a Government Minister, the man himself has come out to defend the state of his health, explaining that he is in good shape to continue on the job.
Dr Roopnaraine’s statement comes in light of a recent letter written by Rohit Kanhai; a member of the overseas chapter of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and published in Guyana Times. Kanhai claimed Roopnaraine’s health is a cause for concern as well as the recent political issues that has been brought to the fore.
The Minister who happens to be the leader of the WPA told sections of the media that while he does have some health related issues, it has never made him incapable of carrying out his daily functions as a Minister of Government, and he has no difficulty performing his duties.
He said, “I don’t believe my health affects anything. Yes, I had some issues and was hospitalised for a few days but those issues have been fully dealt with and I am fully capable of fulfilling all duties.”
Kanhai had said in his letter, “…Dr Roopnaraine’s health, which has dramatically complicated these matters. The volatile mix of political and health issues has led to an intolerable situation in which one cannot be discerned from the other. It is now obvious that Dr Roopnaraine’s health issues are being manipulated for political purposes. While there is a genuine concern by the President for the welfare of Dr Roopnaraine, it obscures the fact that it has also allowed for the manipulation of Roopnaraine to the disadvantage of the WPA. This state of affairs has now reached a breaking point.”
In July 2017, the Minister had tendered his resignation with Government citing health reasons. His resignation came one month after he was removed as the substantive minister of the Education Ministry and placed as head of the newly created Public Service Department under the Ministry of the Presidency.
However, after a meeting with President David Granger, the WPA leader withdrew his resignation and agreed to take up the post as Minister to head a department within the Ministry headed by Joseph Harmon.
With close to one year in that position, there has been little said or done by that specific department. However, Dr Roopnaraine said he is still trying to get his feet wet and plans to hold meetings with all senior members within various departments that fall directly under the Public Service Department. He promised to provide a report that will speak to the accomplishments made since his take over.
Dr Roopnarine who has been relatively quiet ever since being demoted also commented on the ongoing broil between WPA and People’s National Congress (PNC) members. He told sections of the media that the concerns raised by his own colleagues, Tacuma Ogunseye and Dr David Hinds – that the WPA has little to no influence in the coalition – does not warrant a withdrawal from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
He did however acknowledge the need for a meeting with WPA executives to “seriously discuss” the issue of Dr Hinds and Lincoln Lewis being removed as columnists with the State-owned Guyana Chronicle and other important matters of concerns, particularly as it relates to the WPA’s role in the coalition.
“The issue I believe is that the leadership of the APNU of which the WPA is a part has not met recently. I don’t think the party has been disrespected. I believe this issue is best laid at the leadership of APNU; it is definitely something to be addressed,” the WPA explained.
There have been growing concerns that the People’s National Congress continues to show disregard and disdain for the spirit and letter of agreements it signed with key coalition partners, with Dr Hinds stating that the PNC must recogniSe that it cannot win a free and fair election on its own at this juncture in Guyana’s history, as its core support group is no longer emotionally attached to the party.
