Latest update January 15th, 2025 3:45 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Is Ramkarran’s hat in the Presidential ring?

Jul 16, 2008 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

For a very long time in this country, it was assumed that Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud was the person most likely to succeed Cheddi if anything had happened to the old man during that long period he was “cheated but not defeated”.

The Pandit was seen as the second most senior and therefore it was assumed that he would most likely succeed Cheddi.

Most of those who held that view seemed to have forgotten that Cheddi’s wife, Janet, was a founder member of the PPP and its forerunner to the Political Affairs Committee and therefore was the second most senior party official after Cheddi.

Interestingly, she was however never seen as a successor to the old man and that is why the Pandit’s stature was so high in the party.

Long before that, however, there was someone who was seen as the best candidate to succeed Cheddi. This man was a little dynamo.

Unlike most PPP leaders this guy was an extremely colourful character.
He was also extremely sharp and witty and could embarrass his opponents through his mastery of repartee.

He could match horns with anyone because of the sharpness of his mind and the remarkable gift he had of being able to counter almost without thinking. He was a natural.

For a long time, he was seen as Cheddi’s right hand. That person was Boysie Ramkarran, a very special person indeed within the PPP and within Parliament.

He unfortunately did not live long enough to see the PPP regain power but I am sure that wherever he is he must be having a good laugh at the way history turned on the PNC.

Boysie’s son, I am told, is the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, and someone who was also very close to Cheddi following the 1992 elections.

I did say in an earlier article that I did not expect Mr. Ramkarran to be considered as the party’s Presidential candidate for 2011.

This was because I felt that given his role within the PPP and the fact that I believe he is much better known as the Speaker of the National Assembly than as a long-standing PPP member, that he was at a disadvantage if he were to only now signal his intention to run for President. I felt that he needed to throw his hat in the ring much earlier.

Yesterday, I was told that contrary to what the Peeper may have believed, his hat is already in the ring. If that is indeed the case, if Mr. Ralph Ramkarran has already signaled his intention to run for the Presidency, then he would have to be considered a serious contender.

Apart from the fact that he is highly respected within the Executive Committee of the party, he is also someone who, as I mentioned above, has the right political pedigree.

Even if one-tenth of his father’s qualities rubbed off on him it would be sufficient to make him a credible challenger because Boysie was someone very special within the PPP.

It must also be considered that because of the Ramkarran family loyalty to Cheddi Jagan, that the son of Boysie would always have a special place within the party.

Mr. Ramkarran would also enjoy the support of one of the most powerful persons within the party and someone who can be an asset in his camp, Mrs. Janet Jagan.

If the hat is in the ring we must not count out Mr. Ralph Ramkarran. He comes from a family that has been one of the most committed to the party.

I do not agree with that nonsense that Freddie wrote yesterday comparing Mr. Ramkarran with Bharrat Jagdeo. Mr. Ramkarran is a much more open-minded and tolerant politician than the President.

His age may be a factor, but a factor to his advantage because right now the PPP must be regretting the day that it handed the Presidency to a young boy who did not have the political maturity to deal with the sort of issues that are more critical to this country.

I therefore hope that if it is confirmed that Mr. Ramkarran has thrown his hat in the ring, the next Congress of the party will consider his political experience as an asset given Guyana’s peculiar political circumstances.

If, however, he has not thrown his hat in the ring, I would urge him to do so immediately because factions are already beginning to cement themselves to various leaders and therefore he needs to let the delegates to the next congress know that he is up and running for 2011.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 13th, 2025

 

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

National basketball team down to 15 after intense trials

National basketball team down to 15 after intense trials

Jan 15, 2025

Kaieteur Sports-  After two gruelling days of trials at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the Guyana National Basketball Team has been narrowed down to 15 players, signalling the first step towards a...
Read More
Terrence Ali National Open schedule to fist off this Friday

Terrence Ali National Open schedule to fist off...

Jan 15, 2025

Foreign Link players call for Darts Association to step up

Foreign Link players call for Darts Association...

Jan 15, 2025

Race for GFF Elite League qualification narrows down to final four

Race for GFF Elite League qualification narrows...

Jan 15, 2025

BCB organize practice session for female cricketers to select teams for county duty

BCB organize practice session for female...

Jan 15, 2025

Archery Guyana makes history with Physiotherapist at Nationals

Archery Guyana makes history with Physiotherapist...

Jan 15, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]