-says Ramjattan’s backers tried to force him out of race
AFC executive Michael Carrington says he will press ahead with his challenge to Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan for the presidential candidacy at the party’s national conference this weekend, despite vigorous efforts to dissuade him.
Carrington issued a statement last night announcing his intention to run as a grassroots candidate and according to him, party leader Raphael Trotman had requested that the challenge be kept silent. “…Following the approval by the NEC, the leader of the AFC had requested of me and other NEC members not to disclose the decision to the press prematurely,” he said.
But Carrington believes that withholding the information from the public and the general membership of the AFC would be disadvantageous to his bid, and also hurt his chances at success. He said too that it would help to close the door to freedom of information and transparency in the party.
Carrington alleged that the Ramjattan’s team had tried “with much vigour” to eliminate him from the race on the ground that he is unqualified, noting that this did not dissuade him from going to the general membership for their approval. He received approval from the National Executive Committee (NAC) on September 25.
Carrington also alleged that Trotman had intentions of running for the post a second time, but that he is being held to his promise of abiding with the rotation principle. “I had asked Mr. Trotman a straightforward question about whether he would like to run for the Presidency for a second consecutive occasion and he answered in the affirmative. But he has no other option than to endorse Mr. Ramjattan’s candidacy and run for the Prime Ministerial candidacy”, Carrington said in his statement.
According to him, leaders must be challenged for the presidential candidacy at a party internal election. He said that no person can claim to be a winner and achieve the party’s undivided backing by being catapulted to the presidential candidacy in “such an undemocratic manner”. He continued, “Whether or not he wins at the polls, he will have a daunting challenge to eradicate the old culture of prejudice which creates the environment that prevents the cane farmer or rice farmer, or any other grass root person from running for office.
Carrington, age 47 years, is a father of twelve and he described himself as someone who is committed to fair play and the permanent unification of the Guyanese people. Further, he said he is “not a lawyer” and that he is prepared to use his wisdom of life and common sense to work with others to protect the constitutional rights of Guyanese people.
The AFC National Conference is on October 31.
