Nageer complains to Crime Chief about Health Minister

Last Updated on Tuesday, 28 April 2015, 0:35 by GxMedia

by Zena Henry

Social Activist Sherlina Nageer Monday afternoon asked Crime Chief Leslie James to charge Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran for threats he made about being able to strip and slap her for fun.

Nageer was on April 27, accompanied by her lawyer Christopher Ram to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) where the Crime Chief personally took her complaint.

The activist told James that she feels threatened by what the Minister promised and wanted the police to intervene in the matter.

Nageer and Ramsaran had a public run- in at a Berbice Court more than a week ago when she challenged the minister on his performance and he verbally abused her saying she is “shit” and he would “slap her ass just for fun” or have one of his women strip her.

Even after the Minister had apologised for his utterances there, he was again recorded degrading Nageer at a health event hosted by his ministry.

Nageer and Ramsaran were on opposite sides protesting the court case brought against former president Bharrat Jagdeo for racially charged statements he was making in the run up to the May 11 General Election.

While it is understood that there was a bit of a back and forth between the lawyer and Crime Chief over jurisdiction because the incident occured in a different region, Nageer said she was assured that the report would be sent to Berbice where the necessary investigations would be facilitated.

Protest action will however continue, but activist and rights groups will be taking there picket cards and chants outside the office of Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall. Nageer said that picketing will take place there to highlight that the incident with the health minister was not an isolated one, but rather, “a pattern with these officials who engage in abusive and threatening language.”

The AG was heard in a recording of a private telephone conversation with a Kaieteur News reporter warning of possible violence against that Saffon Street, Georgetown-based publication should they continue to report ills on the government. He had also allegedly attempted to solicit sexually favours from one of that agency’s female staffers for one of his male relatives.