By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Following accusations by the Alliance for Change (AFC) that the phones of its Leader Khemraj Ramjattan may have been tapped, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon has advised Ramjattan to disregard any fears he may have in that regard.
According to Dr. Luncheon, it is a slur to even think that the Government and telecommunication companies would engage in any form of unauthorized tapping of phones.
He assured therefore, that anytime wiretapping is done, it is in full subscription to the law and all legal frameworks surrounding the act.
Dr. Luncheon said since the enactment of laws in that regard he can safely say that there has been no unauthorized tapping of phones done on the Government’s part. He assured that it is only done for investigating criminal activities.
The Cabinet Secretary told reporters that while the activities of politicians may be of interest, tapping the phones of such individuals is not permitted and is not carried out by the current Administration.
The AFC had arrived at the idea that its Leader’s phones may have been tapped after Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali reportedly stated that he will obtain the recording of a telephone conversation between Ramjattan and his secretary from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company.
The AFC contends in this regard that Ramjattan’s phones are tapped and that the Minister has knowledge of this. However, Minister Ali in response had noted that the AFC continues to engage in its politics of deception, trickery and lies.
He said, “As Housing and Water Minister, I am unaware that the government has instructed the tapping of Ramjattan’s phone or those belonging to the Ministry. Additionally, the AFC’s attempt to draw extraneous matters in relation to the wiretapping of phones, legality of the same and other security issues has not escaped my attention.”
The AFC in a statement reminded the nation that “based on the wiretapping legislation passed in the National Assembly, the security services may seek the formal legal permission of a judge to have the telephone of a company or person tapped upon provision of compelling reasons to do so.”
