Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and incumbent President, David Granger’s use of a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) helicopter to attend an APNU political rally at Hopetown, Region Five, earlier this year, has been regarded by some sections of society as an abuse of State resources. But, Granger’s running mate, the Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, sees nothing wrong with it.
He told media operatives today, that the use of vehicles for campaigning purposes is acceptable. He even said that it is the “norm” of every other democracy, as he referred to the United States (US), where Air Force One is used to transport the US president during the campaign trail.
“It is ridiculous to make the argument that the president of the country cannot use the State resources to get him from one end of the country. And you know, it’s so ludicrous to make even that point, that it is using State resources. He’s President of Guyana still, until another president is sworn in. And if, for purposes that he would like to use the helicopter belonging to those State agencies that have helicopters…There is absolutely nothing wrong with that,” Ramjattan said.
Ramjattan admitted that while it is “certainly an advantage”, it is one that comes with incumbency.
The AFC Leader was reminded that he was vocal about the former regime’s use of State resources during the lead up to the May 2015 polls, to which he denied.
“If you could show me that tape in which I had said that…I must say that I never criticized his [former President, Bharrat Jagdeo’s] use of whatever it was,” he said.
Asked where the line should be drawn with regards to using State resources, Ramjattan said: “I believe there is a line, and that is that you cannot take what is called ‘monies’, to then go put for party’s purposes…Like the Ministry of Public Security cannot ask the Permanent Secretary (PS): give me a million dollars or one dollar for purposes of a political party project during the campaign.”
Ramjattan said that using the vehicles is acceptable, but not the usage of monies belonging to the State.
