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Leader of the Alliance For Change and Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan called the exposure of Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo and Chinese businessman Su Zhirong’s relationship “absolutely wretched.” Last Sunday, US-based VICE News aired the much anticipated interview with the VP, on Showtime television. The interview was done by investigative journalist, Isobel Yeung. In the interview, still reverberating, the VP was seen on tape interacting with a Chinese undercover ‘businessman’ (a VICE personnel) at his home about business opportunities in Guyana. The ‘businessman’ was taken to the VP’s residence by Su. Zhirong was seen on tape flaunting, to the News team, his relationship and access to Jagdeo, displaying, in paper and electronically, the investments he reportedly achieved from said association. Ramjattan, appearing on Sherod Duncan’s “In the Ring,” programme, said revelations in the VICE interview “is a shame and stinks to high heaven.” Lots more Guyanese must show their outrage because this is an outrage, said Ramjattan. Citing that the principle of democracy has two strains- free and fair election, and good governance after. He noted, whilst there are election petitions before the court, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is in charge of government and they must be held accountable for good governance. A visibly upset Ramjattan said “Jagdeo should get his ‘behind’ out of government” and those in the PPP/C leadership must have the courage to tell him to go because he is trashing the Irfaan Ali government. It is his opinion, leaders in the Party need to break the cult like leadership Jagdeo has created. “For the good of the party and image of country an investigation should be conducted” Questioning why Jagdeo should be the point’s man on investment when Guyana has a Go Invest institution, Ramjattan said the VP is setting a bad precedent for public servants and signaling to them they could do the same thing, creating widespread corruption in government. And weighing in on VP’s response to Yeung’s question to him about knowing Su, Ramjattan said the response was a red flag. Mimicking Jagdeo’s apparently nervous response –’Su, who Su, what Su…?’ said it was the pinnacle of a piece of cross-examination by VICE News, and were the VP to take a lie detector test he would have failed. “Pressure to be applied for Jagdeo to go and an investigation launched. It is a nonsensical situation and citizens must ensure the outage continues until he is removed from public office.” For lessons learned we should have a probe and an inquiry, said Ramjattan.
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