By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com]–Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee says it gives him great pleasure to know that the Opposition has renewed its calls for him to either resign from the post or have President Donald Ramotar rescind his Ministerial appointment.
“I wish he [Opposition leader David Granger] could call for my resignation every day, it makes me feel that I’m on the right path,” Rohee told a news conference this morning (Monday, June 16).
Both Opposition Leader David Granger and the Alliance for Change (AFC) issued statements last week calling for Rohee’s dismissal.
Rohee boastfully said today, “It feels good to know I’m like a bee in his bonnet, it doesn’t upset my breakfast, lunch or dinner, and I eat more heartily.”
He subsequently explained that what the Opposition is trying to do, is to make him execute the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Police.
“If I am to fall into that trap then their criticisms will be justified,” he said, adding that “subject to instructions of the Minister of Home Affairs, the Commissioner of Police will be responsible for his superintendents and the management of the Force.”
Rohee said it is unfortunate that Granger, who profess to be an expert on security, cannot see this distinction; reasoning that their intention must be to encourage political interference in the operations of the Force, something he [Rohee] has never done and will never do.
According to the AFC, he [Rohee] does not understand that as the person with ministerial responsibility for the Guyana Police Force, whether the prevailing circumstances are good or bad, the ‘buck’ stops with him; adding that he is ignorant of his responsibilities.
On the other hand, Granger believes the responsibility for human safety must be placed in the hands of a Minister who has the interest in curtailing the road carnage and in making Guyana’s roads safer.
In fact, the combined Opposition had passed a motion in the National Assembly in 2012 expressing no-confidence in Rohee and his ability to exercise responsibility for human safety as Minister of Home Affairs.
The resolution which called on the President to revoke Rohee’s appointment was not done.
