Nominations for the PPP Presidential Candidate have “more or less” formally been closed, the party’s General Secretary Donald Ramotar said yesterday.
Asked whether it was likely that anyone could be nominated at this stage, Ramotar said that there is less room for anyone to come in at this time. “I don’t think there is anything to be too concerned about,” he said.
Reports surfaced recently of a likely nomination for Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud to enter the race to be the presidential candidate for the party and Persaud on Monday expressed his willingness to serve in any capacity desired by the PPP. “Robert Persaud has not been nominated, no,” Ramotar said when asked about this.
Despite Ramotar’s statement, it is possible that Persaud could be nominated at the level of the 35-member Central Committee, which will ultimately decide on the candidate. The party’s 15-member Executive Committee, after debate on nominations, will make a recommendation, based either on consensus or a vote, for referral to the Central Committee. Deliberation at the level of the Central Committee could see the nomination of alternatives. However, on previous occasions the recommendation of the Executive Committee has been adopted.
The top brass of the party has been meeting to consider the nominees in the contest to lead the PPP in the upcoming national elections. The nominees include Ramotar, Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran, presidential advisor Gail Teixeira and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee. Party veteran Moses Nagamootoo, who has declared his interest in being the candidate, has said he will not submit himself to the process being utilised by the party.
The selection process is continuing, Ramotar said yesterday. While not willing to speak on a timeline as to when the process will be completed, he said “I think we don’t have much longer to go.”
Ramotar, Ramkarran, Rohee and Teixeira have been making presentations to the Executive Committee and the party has said that the exercise at that level will continue as the body prepares a proposal for consideration of the Central Committee.
Ramotar is seen as one of the front-runners and the candidate supported by President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is constitutionally barred from contesting for the presidency again. A key issue that faces the party is the manner of voting for the presidential candidate. There are two camps: one that favours open voting and the other by secret ballot. Observers believe that the method of voting will determine who will finally be selected as the candidate.
