Dear Editor,
President Donald Ramotar would soon have to decide what kind of legacy he will leave so that he is not seen just as an extension of his predecessors. Most importantly he will not last long unless he quickly recalibrates and consolidates his base. Obviously some in the PPP/C are in monumental denial that they have considerably neglected and weakened their core supporters. President Ramotar has to take major responsibility as he was also PPP General Secretary. Who dropped the ball in neglecting the party machinery and when will the PPP congress be scheduled?
What can explain the PPP/C’s non presence at the recent sugar strikes at Blairmont, Skeldon and Enmore/Enterprise is anyone’s guess. They don’t seem to even care despite quickly addressing the longstanding bauxite workers problem with arbitration.
When the vacuum is so quickly filled by the eager AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo and surprisingly Kaieteur News’ crass columnist Frederick Kissoon none should be surprised. What PPP/C wisdom facilitates their opponents to rally and stir unrest among their supporters in the sugar belt without any engagement? It would seem that some PPP/C leaders have become conditioned to a noticeable arrogance that they alone know what’s good and better for their supporters; the same workers who stood with them through thick and thin. Or it could exemplify a PPP/C attitude that their supporters owe them instead. President Ramotar must ensure that he legitimately and expeditiously honors the needs of his support base if he wants to survive. When the PPP/C loses power it will be unable to deny it did not know of its supporters’ insecurities.
In nearby Trinidad, the discredited former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday remained completely disconnected with his working class base allowing the subsequent Prime Minister, Patrick Manning to trump Panday’s UNC by firing thousands of Caroni sugar workers. Panday is now a complete reject even in the UNC.
Opposition Leader David Granger’s PNC/APNU has also pledged to revamp Guyana’s sugar industry. Most of Trinidad’s sugar lands now remain completely idle and they now import food.
What kind of destiny Mr Ramotar charts remains a mystery. But when his party holds political power they have to be decisive and reflect the challenges of the times. Carefully analyzing Guyana’s situation must facilitate “promoting” the retirement of many PPP/C antiques while pursuing more “glasnost” Jaganite philosophical changes.
The PNC/APNU will take advantage of any opportunity to gain power. Already the AFC dances to their tune. President Ramotar must know more than anyone what ails the PPP/C and how to fix it. His biggest asset is no other than former President Jagdeo who can step up to the plate and confess that he has made some critical errors reflected especially in the election results. The time to fix the problems must be on tomorrow’s agenda.
Yours faithfully,
Vassan Ramracha
