From the Diaspora…IS THE PPP WORRIED ABOUT LOSING THE ELECTIONS

Mar 13, 2011 News

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By Ralph Seeram

A few articles ago I wrote about the possibility of the PPP losing the next elections. A key argument in that piece was the fact that there is going to be a new generation of voters who were born and grew up under the PPP administration. Some may have born a few years before 1992 but never the less, only know of the PPP Government.
This group I mentioned will pose a problem for the PPP. No one with certainty can say how these young people will vote. They did not grow up or experience the PNC era of dictatorship, therefore the PPP cannot assume that they will vote overwhelming for them.
This group will judge the PPP on its performance. Obviously the President has a lot to show for their years in office and will no doubt highlight those achievements in the coming elections, but make no mistake, the opposition will launch an all out attack on the ruling party citing many of the problems that have been highlighted by this newspaper. Readers of Kaieteur News, I am sure, are familiar with those problems and dissatisfaction with PPP. This is going to be one of the dirtiest elections ever, there will be so much “mudslinging” and character assassinations the likes Guyana has never seen.
I mentioned this because of a recent speech by President Bharrat Jagdeo in which he urged his older supporters to enlighten the younger voters of how it was under the PNC administration.
Obviously the importance of these new voters has not been lost by the PPP. For the President to make that appeal, suggests to me that the PPP is worried about how this new group of voters will cast their ballots. If the PPP thinks it is going to win the election by beating on the PNC for their years of dictatorship, it is mistaken.
The People’s Progressive Party would have been in power for nineteen years; it will have to stand on their performance and not on the PNC’s. Guyanese will be more concerned about their living conditions today; they are concerned about the problems that affect their daily lives today, not what happened twenty-years ago.
Ironically, the PNC did not help its cause by electing Mr. Granger as its Presidential candidate. Mr. Granger is not a creditable candidate; he cannot win an election, and the PPP has already begun digging up on his role in fraudulent elections in the seventies. While he may reinvigorate the PNC base it will at the same time keep away those independent or crossover voters who feel he had a role in those fraudulent elections.
The PNC should have elected someone who could win cross over votes; maybe the strategy is to deny the PPP a 50% vote by working with the opposition, where if the PNC succeeds, will give it a commanding position in forming a coalition Government.
While the PNC may have decided that its course of action for the upcoming elections, the PPP has yet to start. Facing an unprecedented situation, the PPP seems to be struggling to come up with a Presidential candidate.
It is clear that there are some infighting going on between the older stalwarts and some in the current administration. While the party is interviewing candidates for the position it is yet to announce the solution to a crucial sticking point.  Will there be a secret vote to elect the new candidate for president?”
People in the Diaspora wondered why this is an issue. It goes without saying that a secret vote is the best and most secure way to ensure one votes for the person of his choice without fear or favour.
I think those who argue for a show of hands are afraid that Ralph Ramkarran will win under secret balloting. I said this before some weeks ago. The PPP has to be very careful here, choosing the wrong candidate can cost the party the elections.
Voting by race did not give the PPP a 54 per cent majority. Despite what some may argue the PPP got cross over votes, as well as votes from independents. The party had a great candidate in President Jagdeo, but Jagdeo will not be the PPP point man this time; he is riding away with his lifetime pension to Pradoville 2.
Rohee, Gail and Ramotar cannot pull it off. I repeat, the PPP base alone cannot win the election. Those three cannot pull the extra votes. In my view only Ralph Ramkarran can do the job. Personally I think he is credible, he would be fair and would certainly try to repair the image of the PPP especially in the Diaspora.
I think he will reach out to the opposition and will get their respect and cooperation. He certainly does not want the job for the money; he has already made his. I am sure he would do as what Cheddi Jagan would have done, stamp out corruption in government. You can say a lot of thing about Jagan, but I cannot recall anyone say that he was corrupt.
Ralph Seeram can be reached at Email: [email protected]

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