As in Guyana, there are also mixed reactions in some sections of New York among Guyanese to the idea of President Bharrat Jagdeo possibly running for a third term in office come 2011.
And interestingly, even in Liberty Avenue, Queens, where Guyanese there are well known for their support of the PPP/C government, there are many who feel that while President Jagdeo has done well he should step aside for a new face.
Many are of the opinion that while the president has repeatedly said he has no interest in a third term in office, he may indeed be considering it or it would not have been such a great source of discussion.
And with last week’s emergence of a group calling itself the “Guyanese Coalition For Jagdeo Third Term” (GCFJTT), some say it is even more likely that the president may indeed consider a third term.
The opposition parties have since lambasted the group and have labelled their campaign as pointless.
Last week the GCFJTT, whose members remain anonymous, began campaigning for a third term for Jagdeo by distributing flyers and buttons. The group in the flyer said that Jagdeo had demonstrated “visionary, courageous and astute leadership over the years” and the group wanted him to continue the “developmental path for a modern, peaceful and prosperous Guyana.”
The group said that “we are prepared to utilize the constitutional mechanisms to a third term as President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.”
`Step out’
“Jagdeo had he turn now, he should step out. Give somebody else a chance,” said a taxi driver on Liberty Avenue in New York when approached by Stabroek News.
As he held the door to the taxi service standing next to two of his colleagues, the man said he believes that it is time for someone else to take over the running of the country even as he quickly pointed out that the president has done a good job.
Further pressed on the issue the man clammed up and refused to give his name, stating that he would have to get the permission of his boss who was not around.
He was not the only one who did not want his name mentioned as many others who were approached and were willing to speak refused to give their names to this newspaper.
When asked what they are afraid of, as many of them are supporting Jagdeo, they stated that they are not really into Guyanese politics.
Some women on Liberty Avenue gave blank stares when approached and others just smiled before continuing on their journey on the cold, windy Saturday.
Even in other parts of New York, such as downtown Brooklyn, the few Guyanese approached while being vocal in their resistance to Jagdeo getting a third term refused to have their names printed since according to them they have family back home and they did not want to make life more difficult for them.
“A third term for Jagdeo? You got to be kidding me that man should get out… I doubt whether Guyanese would allow that man to remain there. What is the PNC doing about it?” a man questioned.
But he quickly answered his own question since according to him the PNC leaders are all about power and are not doing anything for their supporters and Guyanese in general.
“He [PNCR leader Robert Corbin] want to rule forever, he don’t care what he doing to the party, he just want be leader… So maybe since he want be leader forever he wouldn’t mind Jagdeo being president forever too…,” the man remarked.
Others seemed resigned since according to them nothing is impossible in the Land of Many Waters and as far as they see it they are thankful that they are far removed from Guyana.
“Done a lot of good things”
Many also sang praises for Jagdeo’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) on Liberty Avenue and they all knew that it calls for the “rich countries to pay the poor countries to conserve the forest.”
They also spoke about the Berbice and Takutu bridges and talked about trading between Guyana and Brazil.
“Nobody in the world can do it [campaign for the LCDS] better than Jagdeo, nobody could stand up to him on this issue,” said Taysu Lall, who had no qualms about his name being printed and was very vocal in his praises for the president.
As he sat with his friends taking a beer at the Guyana Oriental Restaurant on Liberty Avenue, he became very passionate on the issue and even angry at his two drinking pals who were not in support of the third term.
The restaurant, which appeared more like a bar, was filled with men, mostly Guyanese, but Lall and his friends were quick to pull chairs for this reporter and her friend – the only females other than the waitresses present – and got down to the business of discussing Guyanese politics.
Lall, who said he was home on holiday for one month last year, said there is nothing wrong with Guyana but when asked why he would not return to his homeland to live, the carpenter said that he has established himself in the US.
“I think Jagdeo has done a lot of good things but I don’t think he should go for no third term,” Anthony Singh told Stabroek News.
He, unlike Lall, feels that Guyana is still deeply “polarized” as people continue to vote race and as a result “the PPP/C will always get fifty-one percent of the votes.”
Singh, who was a bit hesitant to give his name because he said he is a known supporter of the party, observed that it is highly unlikely Jagdeo or the PPP would be able to run off a referendum to change the constitution which would then pave the way for Jagdeo to run again for the presidency in 2011.
“But I know nothing is impossible… but I wouldn’t support it and I know many people wouldn’t. And then look at all the violence around elections time and if you push something down people throats then what you think would happen?” he asked.
He suggested that Jagdeo run for Prime Minister as he would still be able to push his initiatives as has been the case of former Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lall quickly interrupted Singh, vehemently denying that there is race-based politics in Guyana, while their friend Winston looked on smilingly and only made a few comments.
According to Lall Guyanese are “far more civilize now, people don’t think like that anymore.” He became upset with this reporter for not giving an opinion on his statement.
He became even more riled when his two drinking buddies suggested attorney-at-law Moses Nagamootoo or Speaker of the House Ralph Ramkarran to succeed Jagdeo. In his estimation Nagamootoo is not qualified enough and Ramkarran is too old.
“I would go for Moses he was pushed out of the party by a conspiracy and he is a good man,” Singh said as Winston nodded vigorously.
“No! Moses had to go back to school and get qualified he not qualified at all,” Lall said, as he jabbed a finger at his friend.
“No man Moses bright,” said Winston, his one real contribution to the raging discussions between his two buddies.
And while the Alliance For Change (AFC) has the potential of becoming “another WPA” that is all they would be as the men strongly felt that they would never be elected to run the country.
“I don’t think they are broad-based enough and I don’t think in my lifetime they would be elected,” Singh said.
Lall said he feels that co-leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, should leave Guyana forever “because like Ravi Dev [former leader of ROAR] he only dividing the country.”
As this reporter left the bar and headed back into the cold air on the avenue attempts to solicit more comments from Guyanese were not met with welcoming responses.
But one thing is certain, should Jagdeo approach Liberty Avenue – which has good cause to be called ‘Little Guyana’, including the spicy smell of a Guyanese curry in the air – it would not be difficult for him to get support for a third term although there are a few who would object. As for other parts of New York, especially Brooklyn, he would definitely have to demit office come 2011.
