Choose brave and courageous people to lead

Feb 10, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I am observing the current wave of change in North Africa, Tunisia, Yemen and Egypt where peoples’ power has been triumphing over political powers. The people must be confident that their power is paramount.
Political power is only a tiny fraction of power agreed to only for administrative practicality of a large number of people, as this function can is better fulfilled by such a mechanism.
A constitution is intended to preserve the balance in favour of the majority of the people. The reality in Guyana demonstrates that the scale itself has been a victim manipulated to the extent whereby the peoples’ side is being out-weighed by the political administrators’ side using weights which are not listed in the agreement with the people.
This has taken a toll on the tolerance of the Guyanese people. Like in Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt it is only a matter of time before the tolerance runs out. We saw what happened in Eastern Europe, now in North Africa and it is logical to see it happening in Guyana. The political parties in Guyana should act and behave more intelligently, less selfishly and allow for the orderly overlapping of political changes in order to avoid the pains of clashes with the great power of the people and the military establishment under the commands of the current greedy political office-bearers.
This is clear evidence of misuse of trust given to the political leaders by the people. There is a logical and scientific sequence of activities which will unfold naturally. A careful, understanding and trustworthy leadership can easily prevent social trauma, political disgrace and shame to them and their entire families for generations to come. I advise the current crop of Guyanese politicians not to provoke the wrath of the people, relinquish personal and personality agenda. Give real meaning to the people’s obvious consensus and allow for peaceful and popular changes to be implemented in an orderly and respectful manner.
The Guyanese majority, in my view have been expressing a clear narrowed-down choice on presidential candidate. The Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Ralph Ramkarran is from a family of respectable individuals. His father is the famous trade unionist, former president of he Guyana Agriculture and Workers Union, Boysie Ramkarran. His children and other family members are also educated people.
Unlike the other PPP leaders, Ralph Ramkarran, not only embraces private enterprise, but who himself owns a private business which he developed to provide high quality professional services. Cameron & Sheppard has executed and delivered services for decades.
On the political arena, Attorney-at-Law Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, SC, MP, as speaker of the National Assembly disagreed on many occasions with members of his own PPP party. He even disallowed their motions and ruled in favour of the opposition numerous times. This is a man of stature, professionalism, integrity and justice. Ralph Ramkarran has been internationally recognised by foreign governments. Guyana can benefit a tremendous lot by having such a tall figure as its president. He will be a no-nonsense leader.
Ralph Ramkarran, I am sure will embrace high standards, professionalism and bring a sense of law and order at all levels of our society.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, MP, former government minister, author, journalist, has been on Guyana’s political scene for decades. Unlike most of his PPP colleagues, this gentleman shows ambition, seemingly stands for principles and is independently outspoken, at times even if his views do not coincide with colleagues.
He fought the brutal Burnham regime for all Guyanese and against the government of the day, so that they can today retain some level of sanity in the rapidly degenerating Guyanese society at that time. He continues to express constructive criticisms up to today, although his very own PPP party is in power.
Like Ralph Ramkarran, Moses Nagamootoo a towering political figure, a long-standing member of parliament, an attorney-at-law, a family person with educated children. Mr. Nagamootoo has shown great ambition. He was not satisfied with being a journalist. He left his ministerial post to further his studies and graduated from law school. This is something that very few people will endeavoor. It speaks volumes of Nagamootoo’s character, determination and attitude to life and society.
He was determined to always elevate and improve human capabilities just to serve society, to better serve other human beings. Moses Nagamootoo has written hundreds of articles and is also a published author. Politics and journalism are not his only passion, but law and culture are other areas in which he excelled.
Mr. Moses Nagamootoo has recommended himself as an unflaggingly enthusiastic scholar and public servant who possesses tremendous exceptional human and professional qualities, which if adequately directed, may become a long deserving source for Guyana’s economic, social and political take-off. These rare inherent instinctive personal irresistible qualities are compatible with the requirements for national reconciliation. Moses Nagamootoo is likely to be proven a necessary redeemer for his Party and the entire Guyanese nation.
Ideally, at this critical juncture in Guyana’s history, jointly Mr. Ralph Ramkarran and Mr. Moses Nagamootoo can catapult Guyana’s development into the realm of great nations. Yes, we all know that Guyana has vast resources and yet its general population live in poor conditions, dependent on relatives and friends in the Diaspora for hand-outs and barrels. Guyanese now have a unique opportunity to choose leaders who are capable of institutionalizing intellectually passionate professional work ethics by example, and not only by words. Ralph Ramkarran and Moses Nagamootoo are the most brilliant politicians in Guyana today who have made and will make a great difference in the lives of all Guyanese.
Guyanese should choose wisely or else they will have to wait longer for real improvement in their livelihood. Choose the adequately educated individuals to lead Guyana. Choose brave and courageous people to lead Guyana. Choose people with excellent professional conduct. Choose people who have prove track records of excellent leadership. Choose the best of the presidential hopefuls to fast-track Guyana’s development and in higher gear, which only experienced and skilled pilots are capable of doing.
Rudra Jagnarine

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