Where to the publicly stated candidates of the PPP?

Oct 13, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I will state immediately at the outset, that while I was a member of the PPP, I was the political protegee of Moses Nagamootoo, who was the most popular PPP leader outside of the Jagans, due largely to his accompanying Cheddi Jagan on most of his outreach meetings over the years, his penchant for public speaking and his ability to rouse the crowds for Cheddi to address after wards.
I also noticed Moses’s regular forays into unpopular dis-association from the collective positions of the rest of the Central Committee of the PPP, which after the rise of Jagdeo, became intolerable, ultimately leading to his orchestration from the Exco of the PPP. Moses could not be bought!
He fearlessly stood up and questioned the role and contribution of Ronald Gajraj and the attention he was attracting to the PPP’s governing style and content. But Jagan is stuck in his head. He needs to expound that disease and to move on with his political career outside of the PPP. They are damaged goods!
During the period, I sat in the Central Committee of the PPP, 1990-1994 until I was unceremoniously booted from that body; latter it was  Khemraj Ramjattan’s turn to be kicked out of the Central Committee, in contravention to the highest decision making forum of the PPP, its congress —an action sanctioned by Ralph.
I observed the attitude and conduct of Ralph Ramkarran, son of Boysie and brother of Baynee, and can attest to the fact that he conducted himself with decorum and general fairness and always held or demanded the middle ground and that the various factions within the leadership of the PPP do the same.
It is also a fact that Ralph was for a long time, the only qualified lawyer within the leadership of the PPP. This reality forced Moses to study law and Cheddi tried his best persuasive skills to get Moses to desist from going to UG,  a ploy also used by Janet Jagan on this writer.
In fact, in the lead up to the present time, in spite of my close association with Moses, I was inclined, on being asked by Guyanese to support Ralph as the candidate from the PPP, as clearly, he was the most suitable for the job from among those who have publicly declared for the position, within the PPP.
Ralph is definitely qualified on most criteria, to become a good President, if not ONE OF the best persons to ever attempt to run for the position, from within the current PPP.
Moses is the most popular within the PPP and Guyana  at the grassroot level and at this time, has the best chances of maximizing the PPP attraction to their support base, both at home and abroad.
Moses is the only person with a proven track record, who can  convince some of the PPP faithful to stick with the PPP, full war chest or no war chest!
In fact, the feedback from both outside and inside the PPP, is that his undemocratic exclusion will cause serious ripples, with talk of “BRUKING UP THE PARTY” and “ IF MOSES IS NOT THE CANDIDATE I DONE WITH DEM” being frequent outbursts.
As the issue relates to THE DONALD, he was clearly, never seen as leadership material, testified to by the fact that he was never considered for Cabinet level recognition, before and after his selection as General Secretary.
He has a degree from UG in Economics. His accession to the job as General Secretary was only due to the fact that several other preferred nominations, for the position, withdrew, due to ministerial and other responsibilities, and in a dire situation, it was proposed to Donald.
He had to take the responsibility as he was the only Senior one left within the Exco. He was not a minister…and not likely to get a Ministerial appointment! Now the inside-man believes that he had qualified for the Presidency and he is in cahoots with the one who is on his way out.
Clement Rohee was Executive Secretary, before Donald was given the job as General Secretary. He is a hard worker but his  chances of succession evaporated with the passing of his foster parents, the Jagans.
Before, in the words of one who is now dead,  the PPP is not ready for an African Leader. This argument was applied to Luncheon earlier. In any case, one would note that the persons considered for the sensitive position of General Secretary, outside of Janet Jagan, were both Prague schooled, by the Communist International, a source also, for funding of Communist Parties worldwide.
The most trusted in the cabal, Donald was the first to embark on this training, instead of Moses, followed by Kellawan Lall and Clement Rohee, before the Socialist System collapsed.  The funding used to be handed in person by the USSR Ambassador to Janet Jagan at the former Peter D’Aguiar’s  residence at the round about, once monthly.
Large wads of foreign currency used to he handed over at these selected get together to Janet. I was there twice with Moses, Dr Jagan and his bodyguard, among others. A good time to enjoy some caviar and whiskey.
I have seen much speculation about Robert Persaud being among those in contention for the position but I always knew that he would be a non-starter because he does not have the wherewithal, character, political background/experience for the job, not even his current position ,which is manifestly a clausal failure, thanks largely to the nepotism of his forced appointment.
The boy could not even (re-paint) a slogan on the sea wall, in the 1992 campaign, for me as GT Organiser, much less run the most important ministry of the PPP, Agriculture! Thank you Bharat!
I recall in 1992 when I submitted his name as a PPP Polling Agent for Prashad Nagar, Feroze Mohamed , who had sent me to recruit Robert, he was a pupil teacher at St Andrews Kirk at that that time in 1990, saw Robert’s name on my list and went berserk. He told me that I first had to get Janet Jagan’s clearance on his name.
I told Feroze to go to hell as I was getting a very tough time finding 167 Polling Agents for GT. Robert had run foul of Janet by posting, instead of hand delivering, out very important, time sensitive invitations, largely to the Trade Unions in FITUG.  The response all came back in the negative during lunch hour on the day of the scheduled activity. Janet kicked Robert out of Freedom House that day.  But the boy carried so much news on everyone, that he was able to worm his way back into the confidence of the higher ups that I saw Exco members shake in their boots when they heard that Robert was involved in something to do with them.
Those who knew the inside of the belly of the monster, the PPP, knew that The Donald always had a lock on the nomination, from the moment he announced his interest in the position, against  his sworn duty to uphold the constitution of the PPP, and to abide by its rules.
To announce his intention was contrary to the spirit of the constitution and collective discussions and decision-making internally.
Before the party had had the opportunity to discuss the choice of its candidate he was forcing his intended  done deal. But welcome to the bull ring Donald! Ramjattan and the AFC are going to show you “ning ning”.
Lionel Peters

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