Historical race for presidential candidate

Nov 06, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
During the reign of Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Janet Jagan, and Desmond Hoyte there were no serious challenges for leadership of the People’s National Congress (PNC) or People’s Progressive Party (PPP), but the circumstances during their regime were different from that of today.
Save and except that I heard that in the mid-fifties Burnham had challenged Jagan to be the head of the PPP, and Rawle Farley was attempting to cross sword with Burnham when he was quickly shut up by Forbes and his top aides.
Now with Bharrat Jagdeo at the helm and he cannot continue in office since the
Constitution only allows two terms for a President, and Robert Corbin who wants to remain as PNCR leader, but not a presidential candidate; eight persons – four from each of the main parties are vying for the top spot.
And last Sunday’s Special Convention (31-10-10), Alliance for Change (AFC), nominated party’s Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan as its presidential candidate.
I cannot understand how Corbin wants to remain PNCR leader and does not want to run as his party’s candidate.
So far four persons from the PPP have indicated that they are interested to be their party’s candidate.
They are the General Secretary of the party, Donald Ramotar. Efforts to get background information of Ramotar were unsuccessful.
Google does not have much information about him either, save and except he was named General Secretary of the PPP in 1997 replacing Dr. Jagan when he died in March that year.
It is said that he studied in Russia, and reports from Georgetown state that he is the No. 1 contender for his party.
The other candidates for the ruling party are; Ralph Ramkarran, a brilliant attorney, a senior counsel, who is also the Speaker of the House, and who was involved in party politics since he was a teenager, following his father, Boysie Ram Karran, a founding member of the party and who served as Treasurer for decades; Clement Rohee, who is the current Minister of Home Affairs and who served as Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister.
He was associated with the PPP since he was a youth and so was Moses Nagamootoo, a journalist and an attorney, who was a foot soldier for four decades.
There are also reports that Ministers Robert Persaud and Dr. Anthony are also contemplating to join the race.
My choice is Ramkarran, who I think has all the qualities to rub shoulders with world leaders and can properly represent the Republic.
In the PNCR camp, party chairman, Winston Murray is once again in the race for party leadership, having made an unsuccessful bid two years ago when he was defeated by Corbin.
Murray is being backed by Dr. RIchard Van West Charles, former Minister of Health, and son-in-law of the founder leader Forbes Burnham; Brigadier David Granger who retired as Brigadier in 1997 is making a serious bid and Vice Chairman Basil Williams, an attorney and Dr. Faith Harding, a former Minister of Government have also thrown their hats in the ring.
The PPP has its main support from the indo community, although there is a large number of Afro Guyanese loyal to the ruling party, including Cabinet Secretary, Roger Luncheon.
It is unfortunate no Afro Guyanese had expressed willingness to lead the party.
However Murray, an Indo, is in the race once again for leadership of an Afro-dominated party.
It might auger for racial unity if the PPP were to be led by an Afro and the PNCR to be headed by an Indo, but I do not think this can happen during this generation – not in my lifetime.
Oscar Ramjeet

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