Long seen as a likely presidential or prime ministerial candidate for the PPP/C, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud has seemingly faded from consideration with diversification of its candidates being a prime consideration for the ruling party in its selection.
“The main consideration for the PPP in relation to the prime ministerial candidate is ethnic diversity,” former PPP stalwart Ralph Ramkarran told Stabroek News. Following his suspension of Parliament, President Donald Ramotar has said that general elections will be held next year and in November, he had confirmed that he will be the PPP/C presidential candidate.
Prime Minister (PM) Samuel Hinds who is Guyana’s longest serving PM, is tight-lipped about his future plans.
Speculation continues to mount that the PPP/C will field a new candidate for the number two spot at general elections and there are said to be several frontrunners. Analysts and observers told this newspaper that government’s best prospects at this time were current Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett or Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony.
Speculation is rife that given its reduced support in two consecutive elections and at its weakest point in many decades, the PPP/C will pick someone who would give it a real shot at garnering broader electoral support. Rodrigues-Birkett would be seen as someone who could attract votes from the Amerindian community.
The tightly government-controlled, state-owned Guyana Chronicle editorialized recently on Hinds’ political allegiance to the ruling party and even raised the prospect of him bowing out of the number two post in what might be interpreted as a sign of his possible departure even before elections. A source close to government has also told Stabroek News recently that Hinds will not be the prime ministerial candidate come next elections and adverted to the top five candidates. “Well that is true Comrade Sam will not be returning and it would be unfair to ask him again…he has given so much so,” the source said.
Asked by Stabroek News recently about his availability for another run, the 71-year-old Hinds would only respond by querying from the reporter, with a smile, “Will you sponsor me?”
Rodrigues-Birkett has also opted not to address any possibility that she may be offered the prime ministerial position at the upcoming general elections.
She has said that such a decision is not hers while stressing that she is very comfortable with her current portfolio. Asked recently if she was offered such a position if she would turn it down, she responded “I don’t know…Those types of decisions are not decisions made by myself….”
In the 2011, general elections when he was seen as a front runner, Persaud had expressed his willingness to serve in any capacity desired by the PPP. However, since then his sheen appears to have faded. 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.
In a comment to Stabroek News on the PPP’s probable PM candidate, Ramkarran noted that Persaud has been mentioned as a possible future presidential candidate and pointed out that the main consideration for the PPP in relation to the prime ministerial candidate is ethnic diversity.
“That means that the main consideration will be to get an African Guyanese person. Current speculation is that there is no suitable African Guyanese candidate,” he said while adding that mention has been made of PPP General Secretary and Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee.
“In addition to Mr Rohee being of mixed heritage, he is a PPP, rather than a civic leader. The PM position has been held by a leading civic member and it was felt that the PPP might also want to consider a civic member for the post if Sam Hinds declines,” Ramkarran said.
“Since there may not be a suitable African Guy-anese civic leader to replace Sam Hinds, speculation has fallen on Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett. As an Amerindian she represents a major constituency of the PPP. She is also a woman who would appeal to women in general,” he said.
Ramkarran opined that it is also possible that the PPP could persuade Sam Hinds to stay on, even if he is minded to step down. “This would help to avoid a contest between Rohee and Rodrigues and any fallout this may bring,” he asserted.
