Dear Editor,

The PPP and the nation have a rendezvous with history come 2011. The party, after almost 20 years in government this time, needs change. Change in method, in message and in the public perception of itself.

Of course much has been accomplished. As Donald Ramotar is fond of saying, there have been “monumental works”. As such, the PPP governments  formed under its three Presidents, its past and serving cabinet members, the corps of public  servants and advisors…. the whole team, deserves credit for all that has been achieved. But at this point a new direction and a vision for the future is required.

The candidacy of Mr Ralph Ramkarran promises to have just such a transformative effect on the country.

This is not to detract from the evident qualities of other Presidential contenders. It is to underline that  Mr  Ramkarran is a particularly persuasive candidate. I listened to his interview by the formidable Christopher Ram on his weblog Conversation Tree. I read much of what was posted there. What emerges is a philosophy of governance, and a personality, that could only signify a deepening of the political and racial detente, and a change  in “style” that could ease the tensions and assuage the irritants in the country.

Mr  Ramkarran is also, clearly, a modern and clever  politician. Like Obama he has his blog up and running early. He occupies the public space with ideas that attract  attention to his candidacy, he writes, he speaks out. But beyond the method we look at the message. At the “discourse” that reveals Mr Ramkarran to be what Oscar Ramjeet in a recent letter described as  an “extremely intelligent” man. So, beyond the party manoeuvring, the PPP now has the chance to put in power someone with the sense of mission, and most important, with the gravitas expected of a head of state.

Objections to his candidacy have included the fact that he never held a cabinet post. But this is disingenuous. Few have served in public office as long as he has. Speaker of the House is a very senior and responsible position in any democracy. Mr Ramkarran has also lent service on commissions and committees and in the party executive council. It would be hard to ask for more. He has had to follow all the issues and listen to all the reports. He would have acquired a thorough knowledge of the internal and foreign affairs.

We expect that, as a modern politician, he will continue the PPP policy of working with civic society in the formation of the government (would love to see Chris Ram finally giving public service at Finance or close by). We expect also that, like Obama and Sarkozy, he will reach across the aisle with the hand of friendship that refuses to continue scrawling “remember the 28 years” as its epitaph on the PNC.

Mr Moses Nagamootoo has also been interviewed by the media. And there is no doubt that Moses is one of the best politicians of his generation. From the Jagan experience this possible candidate has extracted the aspects of personal accessibility, incorruptibility and accountability to the people. I have also read most of what Mr Nagamootoo has had published and he too will bring his own style and perspective to the presidency. Unfortunately, Moses remains in “banwas”. Exiled from participation in the highest instances of the party. I have to confess to bias in this case since I have known Mr Nagamootoo and found him, a nice person.

For this reason, I am also certain that Moses is one of those persons with the authority and sense of purpose to move the politics beyond the defensive reflex of race.

But, perhaps as Dr Joey Jagan has written, the candidacy may not survive the process of internal party selection.

Also reported to be a very nice person is  Mr Donald Ramotar. He has led the party during one of the most difficult phases of its history. He has done so with restraint and intelligence during the crime waves, the floods, the industrial turbulence… Besides, at a time when the country needs to deal with the industrial situation, he brings real expertise in this area. He seems to incarnate the workers rights aspect of the Cheddi Jagan personality and is said to be an excellent organiser, capable of dynamising the party. The reservations about him seem to sit on his relative silence on the mistakes the government made and on the corruption felt to have tainted it. But we have to understand that his position was delicate.

Clement Rohee, the other candidate, despite his sometimes brusque manner is far from being a heartless apparatchik and has done a good job at Home Affairs, one of the more difficult ministries. He has had long cabinet experience. But his is perhaps also a candidacy for another time.

Several others that have not declared are also good possible candidates. One thinks of Dr Roger Luncheon. Trusted by Dr Jagan and strategically placed at the presidential secretariat. A high vote getter at party congresses Dr Luncheon brings also a sharp mind and sound knowledge of issues before us.

Doubtless other candidates may reveal themselves in time. And we have to agree that the final contest will be between Ramkarran and Ramotar. We also have to agree with Mr Nagamootoo that the democratisation of party processes should create more equitable conditions for handling these matters. In the circumstances then, if Mr Ramkarran prevails the country would be the better for it. The fact that he may be campaigned against at the congresses is inevitable and has to be prepared for. What he has to do is to engineer the process whereby he brings enough energy and force to the congress to overwhelm the campaigning, which afterall is only normal in any elections at any level.

We await with interest the development of things.

Yours faithfully,
Abu Bakr