Dear Editor,
The September issue of the Guyana Review carried two intellectually stimulating articles entitled ‘Bharrat Jagdeo and the future of the PPP’ and ‘Robert Corbin and the future of the PNC.’ However, one thing is abundantly clear from the conclusion and that is the dearth of capable leadership in the current political environment. In this regard Mr Ralph Ramkarran stands out as Guyana’s best choice for 2011, despite his votes at the last PPP Congress at Diamond in 2008 that has been the subject of much controversy and debate in the past.
Mr Ralph Ramkarran was born in a home of politics, being the son of the veteran Boysie Ramkarran, a trail-blazer in the trade union and politics movements since the early ’40s. Ralph himself, an English-trained attorney, became a member of the election commission in the famous 1973 election. He also became a member of the PPP Central and Executive Committees just after that election and for decades was the leading intellectual in that party.
The article made mention of Ralph Ramkarran being a government and party nominee on the Constitutional Reform Commission, the Guyana Elections Commission and the Border and Security Commission. However, what is significant is that he chaired the Constitutional Reform Commission and played a leading role in the election commission and brought their to work to a successful conclusion during a period of political turmoil after the 1997 national elections.
Mr Ramkarran’s achievement in this regard is due to the fact that he is open-minded, flexible, balanced and fair. He commanded the respect of even his fiercest political opponents.
He saw the win-win formula for all political groups as a resounding victory for Guyana in executing his responsibilities. Further Mr Ralph Ramkarran, a legal luminary and Speaker of the National Assembly more than anyone understands the real value of putting integrity back into the mainstream of Guyana’s body politic.
I end with the premise that ‘the function of leaders is to produce more leaders and not more followers.’ This is the reason why Ralph Ramkarran is the right choice for 2011.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)