Former Minister and Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson, has issued a pointed critique of the newly appointed Cabinet under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), raising serious concerns about moral judgment, public accountability, and the rationale behind the creation of a new Ministry.
In a letter to the editor, Ferguson welcomed the appointment of Keoma Griffith as Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, describing him as a young attorney with promise. She expressed hope that he would govern with integrity and spiritual conviction.
“My prayer is that he governs fairly and justly, mindful that he is a believer, and that he carries out his duties in accordance with what God requires of him,” Ferguson wrote.
However, she expressed deep concern over the appointment of Vikash Ramkissoon as Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, referencing allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
“By proceeding with such an appointment, the PPP/C demonstrates a blatant disregard for the Guyanese people and rewards party loyalists irrespective of character,” she stated.
Ferguson also criticised the reappointment of Kwame McCoy, highlighting his past conviction for sexual misconduct, and questioned the message such appointments send to young people.
“How much more can Guyanese be expected to tolerate from politicians who bring the offices of public trust into disrepute?” she asked. “What example or legacy are these leaders leaving for our young people to emulate?”
New Ministry Raises Structural and Fiscal Concerns
Beyond personnel choices, Ferguson questioned the logic and transparency behind the creation of the Ministry of Utilities—an entity she said now covers a wide swath of responsibilities, including water, electricity, communications, aviation, and maritime affairs. The ministry is headed by Deodat Indar, with Madanlall Ramraj stepping into his former role within the Ministry of Public Works.
Ferguson pointed out that the restructuring appears to diminish the portfolio of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, while overlapping with areas previously managed by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Housing.
“This begs the question: was this new structure thoroughly thought out?” she wrote. “Water, previously attached to the housing sector, is expected to be absorbed here… What will be the key functions of the new Minister within Public Works, since that Ministry will now be largely infrastructural?”
She also raised red flags about the opacity surrounding the new ministry’s formation, including its location, staffing, leadership, and expected financial burden.
“The public has not been told where this new Ministry is located, who is its Permanent Secretary, the size of its staff, whether recruitment has begun, or what its likely annual cost to the Consolidated Fund will be.”
Ferguson questioned the substantive responsibilities of Vanessa Benn, recently appointed as Minister within the Housing Ministry, now that water may no longer fall under that portfolio.
In closing, Ferguson accused the PPP/C of drifting from foundational principles of good governance and moral accountability, warning that the country should not become desensitized to political expediency.
Whether her critique prompts any meaningful introspection or response from the government remains to be seen. But the issues she raises—about integrity, transparency, and the true purpose of political appointments—reflect a broader unease among citizens watching the shape of governance shift without clear explanation.
