Threatening letter sent to Senator Deosaran

A San Fernando doctor, who wrote a threatening letter to Independent Senator Ramesh Deosaran, is to be brought up to the Privileges Committee for contempt of Parliament. Deosaran brought the matter to the attention of the Senate yesterday, when he gave a synopsis of what the letter contained. The letter among other things, contained “a four letter word” and “very volatile language,” Deosaran stated. “It was way out of the boundaries,” he told Newsday.

The letter stated, “I would certainly make any visit by yourself most unwelcome, so to prevent any embarrassment to yourself I strongly advise you not to come to San Fernando General Hospital. Or if you do, choose a day when I am not within the compound because you will be dealt with my full wrath.” “If this isn’t a threat, I don’t know what is,” Deosaran stated. Stating that too many times people who are threatened stay silent at their peril, Deosaran said he had referred the matter to the Police Commissioner, who concurred that it was a serious matter. He said the President of the Senate, Dr Linda Baboolal, had also instructed him to bring a motion of contempt. The letter, which was sent in care of the Parliament, was signed by the doctor. His e-mail address was also on the letter. Deosaran said the doctor was a real person, but did not name him. He said he was surprised that a doctor could engage in this kind of behaviour.

Deosaran said while he wasn’t “trembling,” he hoped the Minister of National Security and the Attorney General were taking the issue seriously.  Deosaran had criticised doctors, calling them “mercenaries” in the Parliament, and as a consequence was invited by MPATT to visit some of the nation’s hospitals. Deosaran was speaking on the Offences Against the Person Act, which makes harassment an offence. He said the Bill, coming to the Parliament at Carnival time, should be a warning to Carnival revellers to “cease and desist from touching what is not yours, no squeezing, grabbing etc.”