Outgoing President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said Moses Nagamootoo “jumped ship” after losing his bid to lead the PPP/C to the polls and he told supporters that the former ruling party member did not deserve their respect.
Nagamootoo later dismissed Jagdeo’s criticisms, while adding that instead of attacking him, Jagdeo and his government ought to concentrate on making life better for all Guyanese. “I would not dignify anything Jagdeo says. He is not in my class,” he told Stabroek News at City Hall.
Jagdeo said Nagamootoo left the PPP because he was not selected to be the party’s presidential candidate. “He didn’t get the top job, so he jumped ship and we got to treat him as such. We gotta treat him in the way that he deserves,” Jagdeo told a sizeable gathering outside Freedom House, moments after the ruling party handed in its list of candidates for the November 28 elections.
“We knew then and we know now that he did not have pride in his belly,” he added, in his first direct attack on Nagamootoo, who resigned from the PPP, saying that he lost faith in its leadership. He also accused the party leadership of departing from Cheddi Jagan’s vision.
“All this big loud talk on the air, he didn’t have character. He didn’t have commitment, because anyone who talks Cheddi Jagan’s language and then jumps ship does not deserve any respect and I hope none of you respect him,” Jagdeo said, while adding that party members on the ground have to see Nagamootoo for who he really is.
According to him, Nagamootoo, who was a member of the PPP for over 50 years, always wanted to be president. He claimed Nagamootoo had lied when he said Cheddi Jagan had selected him to be the next president.
He went on to say that Nagamootoo lied again when he said that former president Janet Jagan and he (Jagdeo) had promised him a vice-presidential slot. “Of course he was lying and Janet exposed him and now you can see the ambition in the man. He has moved on to the AFC and they induced him by offering vice president,” he said.
Jagdeo, however, added that AFC has nothing to offer because “they will lose the elections.”
‘Civilised leaders’
In response, Nagamootoo later told this newspaper that although he is being labelled, labels do not hurt in politics. He used Nelson Mandela as an example, pointing out that Mandela had been labelled a terrorist but when he became president of South Africa, people realized that “terrorism is just a label and could not have been attached with someone of integrity, honesty and courage and who has the interest of their people at heart.”
Nagamootoo said that the late President Cheddi Jagan was called names but he had become the “icon of our struggle.”
“So leaders all over the world are called names when they do not serve narrow interests,” he said, adding that he is not worried about labels but about Guyanese being robbed by their labellers, who have bestowed greed and corruption on this country. He said that the country has been brought to a state of disgrace and “we have to rescue this country from its inept stage and take it to a higher level where people once more feel free…,” he said.
Nagamootoo said, “We want a country that has leaders who would deliver promises… We want a country of civilized leaders who do not descend upon journalists like vultures and carrion crows and who do not pick upon the wordy meat of journalists as prey every day.” He emphasised that Guyanese need enlightened leadership that recognize the value of every individual, not a political culture that ends up in a “cuss down, buse up, lick down or lick up.”
‘Champion jockey’
Meanwhile, Jagdeo, amidst cheers from supporters, said what is needed is a leader who can take the country forward, a person who is positive about the future, who wants to ensure that all Guyanese live together and have a better life.
“This is what the PPP family is about and that is why today we are so successful; that is why when you look at this crowd, you see the faces of Guyana.
This is what PPP is about and so I ask you to be proud of your party,” he said.
He urged them to understand that the work is only now beginning. “We are now in the sprint phase, so I am hoping that all of you are prepared to do that,” he said.
PPP/C presidential candidate Donald Ramotar, who was introduced as the ‘champion jockey,’ told the gathering that the party’s list of candidates for every region in Guyana which will see another victory had been presented.
He said that the party has come a far way over the years, working hard to ensure the country is what it is today. He said that his party has given people hope that “we will move forward. We need to move forward.”
Ramotar added that the party has worked hard to achieve national unity. “Look at all you beautiful people. You represent the total composition of this country. Every single ethnicity is here today,” he noted.
“Do not take anything for granted. We will win this elections if everyone of you come out and vote and if you ensure that your neighbour and families as long as they are registered and reach the age to vote, come out on elections day,” he said, amidst applause and cheers from the crowd.
He urged the supporters to keep the momentum going, while assuring that the plans in the party’s manifesto will be implemented so that Guyana can become one of the most dynamic countries in the world.
