The People’s Progressive Party will name its prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections on Sunday at its rally in Linden.
This was announced this morning by Campaign Manager, Robert Persaud at a press conference at Freedom House.
There has been much speculation over this position. Prime Minister Sam Hinds has held this position since 1992 except for a brief period when he became President following the death of President Cheddi Jagan.
In all the elections the PPP and the Civic have contested as an alliance, the PPP nominee has always been the presidential candidate while a Civic member has been the prime ministerial candidate. But one of the outstanding questions is whether the PPP will go into the elections in alliance with the Civic.
Names from both the Civic group and the PPP are being mentioned as possible prime ministerial candidates. Among the names being put forward from the Civic are Robeson Benn and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
Stabroek News was also told that Dr Jennifer Westford, the current Public Service Minister, has been floated as another possible candidate. Westford is a member of the PPP, and is said to be getting support from several persons within the party and even some Civic members.
Another name being put forward, this newspaper was told, is that of Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh. Singh, though, joined the PPP/C government as a technocrat minister and is neither a member of the PPP nor the Civic. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud could also be in the running.
