The Ramayya enigma

Oct 06, 2015 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

I cannot remember how many meetings in Berbice I spoke at with Dr. Ramayya during the 2015 election campaign, but four stands out – two in Black Bush Polder, one in Goed Bananen Land, one in Canje in an area I cannot remember. That meeting in Canje holds memories for me.
Rajendra Bisessar and my security detail, Albert Cromwell, who is known in the AFC by the nickname, “Bulldog.” came close to fistic entanglement. Bissessar accused “Bulldog” of drinking on the job.
I didn’t see the relevance of Bissessar’s remark. Bulldog was my protector not Bissessar’s. Rajendra had his own security guy who had a huge hand-gun and a large hunting knife with him. Rajendra’s security guy was with him throughout the meeting while Bulldog was with me. So Bissessar’s castigation was unnecessary. I don’t mean any insult to Rajendra but his security detail slept throughout the midnight journey back to Georgetown.
Dr. Ramayya and I also appeared on Berbice television during the campaign at least two times. I remember he told me that he may quit politics if he cannot get at least 30,000 votes in Canje itself. The GECOM station by station results for the entire country showed that the AFC did not do well in Region Six and Dr. Ramayya did not get his 30,000 votes.
Dr. Ramayya hit the limelight when he was featured in the media for publicly exclaiming his intention to leave the AFC because Berbice was not adequately represented in the government and that he, Ramayya, was treated flippantly by the AFC leadership after the government was formed.
Many AFC leaders disapproved of the way Ramayya went public with his frustration. I was asked by many persons for my view. Since I have never been blessed with diplomatic subtlety, and since I believe in open expression of feelings, I cannot say that I could honestly disparage Ramayya for his temperamental acrobatics.
But it worked for Ramayya. Didn’t it? Soon after his volcano exploded, he was put in a position of authority in Berbice. My AFC sources told me both the AFC and APNU bigwigs met and quickly doused the Ramayya flare-up because they felt it was not good for Indian support for the coalition. Thus was born the Ramayya enigma. The Ramayya enigma is the study of labyrinthine politics in Guyana.
First, Ramayya was wrong about being left out because Berbicians left themselves out. Berbicians gave the AFC fewer votes than in 2011 and almost brought back the PPP to power. A cynical mind inside the AFC could have easily said to him – you didn’t bring us votes.
Dr. Ramayya only has to consult the GECOM’s station by station, countrywide election results and he will see the runner stumbled in May 2015. Secondly, in its mad scramble to strategize on Ramayya’s rehabilitation, the APNU-AFC coalition conceded that Berbice needs attention. But here is where the Ramayya enigma becomes larger than the Atlantic Ocean.
Why is Moses Nagamootoo, the Minister of Information and not the Minister of Agriculture? I am absolutely sure that the APNU-AFC did not get even a quarter of the votes of the people who occupy the agricultural spheres. It is logical to argue that if Ramayya is needed in Berbice so too is Nagamootoo and not in the capacity of Information Minister. In Guyanese politics hardly anything makes sense. This goes way back to the fifties when Premier Jagan put his tailor in charge of the electricity corporation.
From Jagan in the fifties to Burnham with his bizarre horse-riding visits to south Georgetown, to Desmond Hoyte and his infatuation with white people to Janet Jagan and her anointment of Bharrat Jagdeo to David Granger and his abolition of the Ministry of Youth, hardly anything in Guyanese politics make sense.
How Noel Holder became Minister of Agriculture is an enigma in itself. Mr. Holder has no political experience, was not and was never in the leadership of the AFC and was never involved in any election campaign or politics at any time. I campaigned for the AFC in 2011 and 2015 and never saw Mr. Holder even in the AFC office.
Most inexplicably, a former Minister of Agriculture campaigned for the AFC in 2011 and 2015, and we spoke on the same platform in 2011 in East Ruimveldt. Mr. Holder no doubt is a fine gentleman but he has always been honest to say that his wife likes politics, not him.
Mr. Holder may be suited for ministerial duties but realpolitik would have made Nagamootoo the strategic choice for the Agriculture portfolio. That made sense and still makes sense. But sense and sensibility do not exist in Guyanese politics.

Latest News

The Ramayya enigma

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Windies break home Test drought with 201-run win over Bangladesh

President Ali sees sports as ‘centrepiece’ of...

Amazon Warriors trounce Qalandars in opener

Shepherd excited for IPL journey with RCB

Romeo Hunter snares Sub-Junior and Open gold and...

Rockstone inaugural Street Classic Championship...

Features/Columnists

A psychological profile of a control freak

Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all

The ends are what matter, according to Dr. Jagdeo

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

The Ramayya enigma

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]