Gya: Why is Gajraj still in government?

Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj seems to have no regard for either court orders or the laws of Guyana. Why is he still inn President Jagdeo's cabinet?

r. Lazaro Osmin Gonzales Munoz, a certified medical practitioner, arrived in Guyana about four years ago on a contract between the Cuban and Guyana governments, and after marrying Guyanese Patricia Angela Sherret in early December 2001, he submitted an application for registration as a citizen.

In March 2002, following an interview with Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Mr. La Rose, he was informed by the Head of the Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, that Gajraj had denied his application.

But in November last year, Justice Jainarayan Singh Jnr quashed Gajraj's decision to refuse Munoz's application for citizenship, and ordered that the application be reviewed within 30 days of the ruling.

The judge had also ruled that the applicant be given an opportunity to refute any reasons why he should not be granted citizenship and to present evidence why he should.

But nearly three months later and despite a meeting between Gajraj and one of Munoz's attorneys, the minister has failed to carry out the order. Numerous attempts by Stabroek News to speak to Gajraj on this and other matters have failed.