Dear Editor,
Former President Ramotar cannot be seen, heard or noticed in the press since the recent elections, and now we are coming to the general understanding that he is not to be the leader of the opposition; the PPP has dumped him in favour of Mr Jagdeo, and it is now that we, the citizens of Guyana, can see that all along, Mr Ramotar was just a political puppet.
Editor, leadership, especially at the presidential level, requires three attributes which Mr Ramotar clearly lacked, and that is why he is at the end of his political career, with no coming back. The three attributes are fortitude, persistence and acumen, and combined with his uncompromising Marxism-Leninism, the die was cast for his historic defeat at the polls in May.
Mr Ramotar’s acumen was indeed at a low level when he decided to run his PPP minority administration after the 2011 elections without consideration for and compromise with the opposition forces to get things done, or without even bringing them into a government of national unity. Ramotar showed his lack of political fortitude when he turned a blind eye to the excesses and mistakes of the Jagdeo years in office, not correcting or condemning corruption such as that shown at NCN with Faisal Sattaur and Martin Goolsarran and all the while accepting Jagdeo’s dictatorship in the PPP. He even created a new ministry for Robert Persaud, a questionable political player and a clone of Mr Jagdeo. The election cycle showed Mr Ramotar’s lack of fortitude as he actually allowed Jagdeo to take over the campaign and relegate him to a back seat. Mr Ramotar’s lack of persistence in getting things done for the people of Guyana is glaringly clear in the Berbice region where, as leader, continuous work should have been done for the peoples’ welfare instead of the humdrum and inconsistent regional activities carried out by Mustapha and then Armogan; Berbice is just a microcosm of the situation countrywide where Mr Ramotar’s lack of persistence in solving problems was a factor in his ultimate demise.
Editor, it is a sad occurrence when a person cannot understand their inherent weaknesses and capabilities, especially in politics, and that is why Mr Ramotar will, within a short period, become a mere footnote in the historical pantheon of political figures Guyana has produced. He has left nothing behind, including written enlightenment, nor has he left any concrete evidence of legislative accomplishments, any imposing edifice in our country built while he was president or even real popularity among the people of Guyana.
Editor, in fact, Donald Ramotar is left with only memories of the good times, travelling first class and getting the red carpet treatment (as in India with PM Modi). He went to many places he really did not need to go, instead of going around our country where poverty, crime and futility required his attention. As the curtain comes down on Mr Ramotar’s failed political career, political loneliness and introspection about his political failings will now become his constant companions as he ponders, ‘What if…’
Yours faithfully,
Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr)