Dear Editor,
Although the news of Irfaan Ali as the PPP’s presidential candidate did not come as a great surprise, it is nevertheless, the talking point in the diaspora and I am sure, throughout Guyana. One wonders now if the PPP will win an election with him at the helm. It was Bharrat Jagdeo who was responsible for the PPP losing the government in May 2015 and it is believed that because of his influence, Irfaan was chosen as the party’s presidential candidate. It is felt that Jagdeo has a great influence over the former Housing Minister and can wield a lot of power if Irfaan Ali is President. Jagdeo, a Russian-trained economist, wants to emulate Vladimir Putin/Dmitry Medvedev.
It is a known fact that Anil Nandlall, the former Attorney General, is much smarter, more articulate, more respected and presidential than Ali, yet he was defeated in a contest between the two. Party supporters are upset with the move, prompting them to reflect on Jagdeo’s history with the PPP. He was never in the trenches like dozens of renowned supporters, many of whom were forced out or kicked out because of Jagdeo’s domineering attitude and behaviour. Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan, now two top AFC members, are among them, not to mention Ralph Ramkarran, the late Navin Chandarpaul, among others.
I know for a fact, dozens of well-to-do Guyanese in the diaspora, who were strong supporters of the PPP, because of Jagdeo’s greed and dictatorial attitude, switched their loyalty to the AFC and made large financial contributions to that movement. Many of them indicated to me that they regretted the move and were thinking of assisting the PPP to win the next elections. Now with this move to have Irfaan as Head, they might rethink and might very well keep out and stay out. The mood at this stage is that there will be mass abstention and this might allow the PNC+APNU to win. A friend of mine just emailed me stating, “the dictator has had his way. Nandlall was the brightest of them all, but the dictator wouldn’t have it. APNU has no need to rig now. Goodbye PPP.”
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet