President Jagdeo is a good economist but a far more astute politician. First, he shut down the biggest dissenting voice in the PPP – Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan. In fact it would be fair to say he used his influence to have Mr. Ramjattan expelled from the party. He then cleverly manipulated Mr. Moses Nagamootoo by getting him to campaign for the PPP. Nagamootoo, a former minister who gave up his position to study law, got no position in the Jagdeo administration. The President then used his clout at the ExCo level to prevent Nagamootoo from becoming an ExCo member even though Moses gained one of the highest votes at the PPP congress. Next, it was the turn of Mr. Navin Chandarpal. He was removed unceremoniously from the Office of the President. That move may have backfired as many of the Party’s faithful rallied around Mr. Chandarpal. Mr. Editor, recently there have been numerous letters suggesting that an open democratic process be used to elect the next presidential candidate. Mr. Jagdeo has stated many times he is not interested in a third term but will probably like to have a protege he can influence. It is my belief that the membership will not be the body electing the next presidential candidate but the central committee. The members of this committee are elected at congress so one can argue that there is democracy at work. Mr. Donald Ramotar and Mr. Robert Persaud cannot pull the votes at a special congress. Neither for that matter can Mr. Ralph Ramkarran. All three of them will do better at the Central Committee level. At this level, Mr. Jagdeo will or can use his influence to select who he wants.
Mr. Ralph Ramkarran’s interview with Mr. C. Ram, in my opinion, was a disaster. Mr. Ramkarran came across as being uncertain and lost in some big areas, where he should have been more assertive in his answers. If the interview was intended to launch his campaign, it was a disaster and he may need to re-launch his campaign.
Mr. Clement Rohee has served in three different ministries. By all accounts, he performed and still is performing creditably. Almost, the whole membership knows him and people who know him personally will tell you that he has learnt a lot on the job and is always willing to listen to anyone. This is a good asset for any politician to have. He may yet make a good President. Mr. Moses Nagamootoo has charm, intelligence and probably a large following in the party. But would you vote for someone who cannot even get his colleagues to vote him onto the ExCo? Moses is naive if he believes that it will be the membership who will be allowed to vote for the next presidential candidate.
An article appearing in the Stabroek News claimed that a Cabinet reshuffle was at hand and Mr. Ramotar would be made a minister so he can have more exposure. If after nearly seventeen years as General Secretary of the PPP he still needs exposure to the public; then no amount of exposure from now to the next election will make him better known to the public. He may need also to explain to not only PPP supporters but to the public at large, what role he has played and is still playing at GUYSUCO. Did he, for example, vote against a pay increase for sugar workers? Only he can answer.
Lastly, whether the presidential candidate is chosen at a special congress or at the level of the central committee, the leadership must be aware that it will need all of its supporters to go out and vote at the next election if it is to regain the seat of government. Common sense should dictate that the party choose someone who is well known to its membership; has the charisma and the intelligence to motivate people to run this country in a manner which all Guyanese will be proud of. But today, who listens to common sense? In my opinion, the best person is yet to enter the context. He may need the proverbial push. Let’s wait and see.
Yours faithfully,
Taijnauth Bhoj
