The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is calling for the immediate resignation of Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, following the deadly Georgetown (Camp) Street Prison riot.
The party’s position was related this morning by General Secretary, Clement Rohee, who told the media that “heads must roll” for the riot which has left 17 prisoners dead and several prison officers injured.
During his weekly press conference held at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown Rohee said “the Granger Administration stands condemned, heads must roll for this unforgivable and unforgettable episode in the hierarchy of the Security Sector in general and the Prison Service.”
Despite the APNU+AFC Coalition government being in office for less than a year, Rohee is contending that Ramjattan must shoulder the blame, since he was very vocal about the many reforms needed in the Public Security Sector, while in opposition.”Well they inherited what we left, it doesn’t matter how long they have been here, they have been saying when they were in the opposition that they have the answers, that we’re doing bad, that we’re not performing well,” the General Secretary opined.
He recalled that Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had boasted that the government has some of the best security experts stationed at the Ministry of the Presidency, noting that it is now time for the Coalition government to show its worth.
The Camp Street Prison riot started on Wednesday last (March, 2, 2016) in Capital ‘A’ by inmates who became angry following a routine search and seizure of mobile phones and a quantity of narcotics. The riot continued into Friday morning (March 4, 2016) and ceased after Minister Ramjattan and Minister Harmon met with the inmates individually and agreed to meet their demands, which included among others, more visitation and better conditions at the overcrowded facility.
The opposition, PPP is maintaining that government must take full responsibility for the horrific event.
