Nagamootoo takes on Jagdeo

Oct 30, 2011 News

“…every time he opens his mouth on a public platform he speaks volumes of himself….I am not going to describe him, people will describe him”

Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo has been described on more than one occasion

Moses Nagamootoo and some of the enthused AFC supporters

during his tenure as being less than Presidential or un-statesmanlike.
Just days before the recent Nomination Day, there were numerous reports of Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Central Executive Member Moses Nagamootoo’s resignation from the party and his possible move to the Alliance for Change (AFC).
On Nomination Day, Nagamootoo walked side by side with the AFC Leadership and a clearly jubilant support base, but this invoked the anger of his former colleagues, foremost among them the President.
Nagamootoo however chose not to go down the road of the President instead saying that “every time Jagdeo opens his mouth to speak, he speaks volumes about himself”.
“I wouldn’t dignify anything Jagdeo says…he is not in my class,” Nagamootoo said.
The Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee was also on television for a significant amount of time just before Nagamootoo confirmed that he had moved on to the AFC, and castigated the PPP/C stalwart calling him among other things a hypocrite.
Nagamootoo simply brushed off this attack by Rohee by sending the message, “I pity him.”
When pressed for a further retaliation responding to Rohee, Nagamootoo declined, saying that the Home Affairs Minister didn’t deserve anything more.
“We want a country of civilized leaders, that do not seek to castigate the media as carrion crows and vultures,” Nagamootoo retorted in what was a subliminal yet direct retort to President Bharrat Jagdeo, who over the past few weeks has relished in much publicized media ‘cuss outs.’
“We want enlightened leadership that recognizes the value of every individual…we don’t not want this political culture to descend into a cuss down.”
The veteran politician who has served as Minister of Information, Minister of Local Government with responsibility for Amerindian Affairs and Member of Parliament for the PPP/C Administration up until its recent dissolution, said that now is not the time for a “cuss down, buse out, lick down environment.”
Speaking to his contribution to the Alliance for Change, Nagamootoo said that his decision to leave the PPP/C was the most difficult he has had to make, but the one to align with the AFC was easy.
He said that with the AFC he is now part of a team that will present its best virtues, values and leadership talent and abilities.
Nagamootoo stressed that the job at hand is not a “one-man job” and that he is there to complement an honourable team “young men I have known and with whom grew up with me.”
Asked about whether he intends to shake-up the voting base for the PPP/C Nagamootoo said, “I am not here to shake any base…I am here to spread enlightenment.”
Nagamootoo did point out that life is full of glorious possibilities and that he does not

President Jagdeo during one of his now famous tirades

close doors, “and I do not have a grudge against the membership of this party…I love the supporters of this party, I’ve worked with them for 50 years…my quarrel is not with the membership or with the supporters I think they have been duped and betrayed.”
According to the newest AFC member, his quarrel is with the leadership of the PPP/C that he says has gone astray.
Nagamootoo stressed that he was not looking to engage in any ‘cuss out’ with leaders or launch any negative campaign against anyone but rather to spread a message, “and that is the message that they ought to have held the course.”
“Look at our president…look what we have for a president,” exclaimed Nagamootoo. “Every time he opens his mouth on a public platform he speaks volumes of himself….I am not going to describe him, people will describe him.”