Dear Editor,
I refer to the letter of Lionel Peters in your edition of October 2 `Janet Jagan announced she would be the presidential candidate in 1997’, challenging my broad characterization of the events surrounding the selection of Mrs. Janet Jagan as the PPP’s presidential candidate for the 1997 general elections. The main objective of my letter was to prove that Mrs. Jagan was not a ‘compromise candidate.’ I was present at and contributed to all of the discussions connected to these events so I speak from first hand knowledge. Mr. Peters was not. He relies on hearsay and has an axe to grind.
Mr. Peters’ descends into an arena of half truths, fabrications and calumnies directed against me and Mrs. Jagan. I decline to respond to them except to deal with a few, by way of example, to prove my point.
I should like to quickly dispose of the issue of my financial records. They have never been requested by anyone or inquired into by anyone except the income tax department. Mr. Peters’ assertion that they were requested by the PPP and that I refused to produce them is a complete fabrication. I can assert with complete confidence that such a request has never been made of anyone since 1974 from which time I can speak with personal knowledge.
I am ready and have always been, to produce my financial records privately to anyone and to the public, if others are willing to do so. Also, I am on record as supporting an annual or bi-annual forensic audit of the income, assets and liabilities of the President, Ministers, Speaker and of other public officials and their families and that the results of the audit be made public. I am ready to support and abide by such a law if made tomorrow.
Mrs. Jagan did not visit Mustique at any time that I know of and certainly not before she was appointed Prime Minister. There was therefore no need for her to rush home for any purpose. Mr. Peters confuses Mrs. Jagan with his former leader, Desmond Hoyte, who travelled to Mustique to meet with some Caribbean leaders to justify the infamous rigging of the 1985 elections.
The Party had unanimously agreed that Mrs. Jagan be appointed Prime Minister after the passing of Dr. Jagan. There was no other nominee at any time prior to her appointment.
The issue of the candidate of the PPP in 1997 was discussed at three executive meetings and one Central Committee meeting in August of 1997. In her opening remarks at the first of those meetings Mrs. Jagan mentioned the names of several comrades who were qualified to be presidential candidates and then made specific nominations. Other comrades made nominations.
In my view, and I’m sure in the view of many others, Moses was qualified to be a candidate.
But he had said that he was not interested. This has nothing to do with whether or not he was nominated by one of the persons who shared my view that he was qualified.
Mr. Peters’ bitterness at the PPP had grown intense prior to 1997. Its origin resided in questions by his employers, a state owned entity, concerning his performance.
He probably felt that because he was a senior PPP activist he ought not to be questioned. Or maybe he could not answer the questions. Whatever the reason, his employment did not continue. He then ‘crossed the floor’ and joined the PNC for which he campaigned vigorously. His electoral strategy was characterized by hatred which has clearly not subsided after all these years. Let it go Lionel!
Yours faithfully,
Ralph Ramkarran
