Ramotar’s independence to act won’t be infringed - Jagdeo

Ramotar’s independence to act won’t be infringed – Jagdeo

Oct 05, 2011 News

President Bharrat Jagdeo says that his integral involvement in several key projects that will transition into the post-election period will not in any way hamper the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar, to act independent of him (Jagdeo), if successful.
Jagdeo was asked to respond to this pervasive opinion, given his involvement in major projects such as the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric facility, One Laptop Per Family, Fiber Optic Cable, GRIF, as well as Climate Change negotiations, among other important undertakings.

Donald Ramotar

Jagdeo says that he knows that the view that Ramotar would not be able to operate independent of him is being peddled given that there are a lot of people that are worried that he would be around after elections.
“Given my strong involvement in a lot of these projects doesn’t mean that Donald (Ramotar) cannot be independent …he is a strong person he will have to chart the way forward,” according to Jagdeo.
The President who is gearing to demit office and has thrown his full support behind Ramotar says, “I know Donald Ramotar, he is a clever, smart, amiable person. He has a strong track record of achievement in our party. He is committed to building national unity and moving the country forward.”
Jagdeo says that he does not see any problem or infringement to the independence of Ramotar’s Presidency, with him (Jagdeo) or some other persons helping to get some of the projects implemented.
He suggested that what is needed from persons such as him in a post-election period, should Ramotar succeed, “is backroom work to get these things happening,” Jagdeo said, referring to the projects.
“If me or anyone else… we help to get a couple of these projects implemented, how will this infringe on his (Ramotar) independence? We have always acted as a collective.”
Jagdeo reiterated that the President of the country has tremendous individual power, “but we always had a party supportive of us.”
He said that the party operates with a manifesto and he is sure that many of the projects mentioned that he plays a key role in, will resurface in the manifesto, but he is confident that “Donald Ramotar can chart his own way”.