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Are these the leaders who want to rule Guyana?

Mar 17, 2010 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

I have a friend in the media who sought an interview with a leading trade unionist close to the ruling party. The process is yet to start because the guy wants the questions in advance. Such a person would easily tell you how great the PPP is and you will wonder what he means by great when he cannot sit with a journalist and speak off the top of his head.
Cheddi Jagan once did me that and I told his underlings to tell him to go to hell. I used to do a television programme and he was the then opposition leader. I sought an interview with him and he wanted the questions in advance. We eventually did do the chat because Jagan wanted the publicity and he knew I never would have given in to his demand.
It is a massive failing of an experienced leader that he/she is fearful of being spontaneous with a journalist. Should such a person take up a leadership position in this country? It is unlikely that the print and electronic media have not sought an interview with Navin Chandarpal. I doubt it very much. I will assume (safely I believe) that Chandarpal is not open to (as yet I hope) speaking with the press about his dismissal from the Office of the President. Mr. Chandarpal and the trade unionist referred to above will certainly be part of the PPP’s campaign in the next election. They will no doubt ridicule the PNC. But PNC leaders have shown far more political courage than the Freedom House evaders that want to be our rulers.
Vincent Alexander, Winston Murray and Aubrey Norton never shied away from speaking to the press on the controversies they were embroiled in with Mr. Corbin. During the preparation for the 2008 PPP congress at Diamond, Robert Persaud was asked by the Stabroek News to offer his views on the significance of the congress. His reply was swift and brief. He told the reporter that his party’s General-Secretary, Donald Ramotar, had issued an edict to party leaders not to discuss the congress. In a silly irony, both Persaud and Ramotar addressed the delegates and spoke on the importance of the event.
Why would the leaders of government not want to tell the nation through the media the role of the party’s congress in shaping policies for Guyana when it is that party that is in power? How can such people go to the length and breadth of this country and tell people they are the right rulers to govern? Why would any citizen vote for a Prime Minister or President that refuses to discuss simple issues with the population? It simply means that such a leader will not be comfortable with sharing information when he/she gets into office. This explains the PPP’s attitude to the Freedom of Information Act.
We have seen one interviewee so far among those that are interested in seeking the presidential slot for the PPP at the next election. That was Mr. Ramkarran. We are waiting to hear what Clement Rohee, Moses Nagamootoo and Donald Ramotar have to say. Mr. Nagamooto did offer a glimpse of his thoughts last week when he opined that Mr. Jagdeo has had a satisfactory balance-sheet. What has been successful about Mr. Jagdeo’s performance so far? Anyway we will wait for Nagamootoo to elaborate.
For me, Mr. Ramkarran was disappointing. I saw the second part of the interview with Mr. Christopher Ram and when asked what qualities a president should have, Mr. Ramkarran said one of them must be the ability to unite Guyanese. What analysis can be put to this statement? I interpret it to mean that the Guyanese people are not united. I don’t believe there is any electoral contestant that would be so shameless as to say that Guyana has solved its ethnic distrust and racial animosity.
The question that follows logically is what has the PPP done with its unhindered power since 1992. In this respect, the fault cannot be laid at the doorstep of Mr. Jagdeo himself. It can be if from 1999, when he took over, Mr. Jagdeo has ignored the inputs of the PPP. But this is extremely doubtful. Why after near to 18 years of power, has the PPP not been effective in removing the racial line of demarcation that Mr. Ramkarran should say the next president should be able to unite the population?
The problem with the PPP is given the performance of its present hierarchy; I don’t think it has a leader that can unite us.

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