Ill-health has caused the withdrawal of former Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy from the list of PPP/C MPs for the 11th Parliament and he has been replaced by Harry Gill.
Meanwhile, former adviser to the then Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Yvonne Pearson has been named to replace former Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and she rounds off the list of 32 MPs for the PPP/C
Ramsammy had originally been named to occupy a seat as a member of the opposition in the National Assembly. Former President Donald Ramotar made the announcement of Ramsammy’s withdrawal during a press briefing at Freedom House on Tuesday.
“Leslie Ramsammy will not be making it to parliament…he has expressed his desire and would really have liked to gone there and do battle but I think he has serious health problems,” Ramotar told members of the media.
In a statement, the PPP/C yesterday released part of a communication from Ramsammy where he said “‘’ … After being sick and in bed for two weeks in Guyana, I left last week. I have been in hospital in New York and was discharged subsequently. But given my special situation and my deteriorating health, I have decided that I will not be able to serve with the dedication and commitment necessary for the 11th Parliament. I am sorry that I cannot at this time find it possible to continue the fight as a Member of Parliament.”
Ramsammy served as Minister of Agriculture under Ramotar and previously held the post of Minister of Health.
The party had issued its list of MPs on Tuesday but it was one name short of the 32. Ramotar said that this was an oversight on the part of the party.
The inclusion of former President Bharrat Jagdeo on the list, and as Opposition Leader, will affirm the longstanding view that his political ambitions have not waned and that his influence on the 2011-15 Ramotar presidency was potent. During the 2015 election campaign, Jagdeo, who served as President for 12 years, had denied that he was even going to be on the PPP/C’s list for the elections. At a press briefing at Freedom House, on March 28, 2015 Jagdeo had said, “… I will not be on the ticket. I will not be on the list because I am not interested in going into parliament.”
He was nonetheless included on the list and his name has now been extracted for Parliament. With the PPP/C losing office, analysts say Jagdeo sees the post of Opposition Leader as the next best option for protecting his interests and those of his allies.
The PPP/C in a statement issued on Tuesday said that it wished to confirm that “its decision of the Opposition Leader has been fully endorsed by the Party’s Central Committee. Full disclosure in respect of those parliamentarians who will fill the position of Leader of the Opposition and Chief Whip will take place at the swearing-in of the thirty two (32) PPP Members of Parliament.”
The party has replaced just under one third of its MPs from the 10th Parliament.
Former Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, who was fired by Ramotar following verbal abuse of rights activist, Sherlina Nageer on April 20 outside of the Whim Magistrate’s Court, will occupy a seat in the 11th Parliament. His inclusion is being seen by many as a blow against women’s rights.
According to the PPP/C, the list is indicative of “a good blend of youth and experienced parliamentarians,” adding that “the party has not made a decision regarding when these Members of Parliament will take their seats in Parliament”.
