To think I once preferred Ralph Ramkarran

Aug 02, 2017 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I was shocked by the content of a letter in this column entitled. “Ralph Ramkarran will never apologize to inferior quality” written by a T Karran. Firstly, Mr Harris was attacked for allowing Freddie Kissoon to pen his version after previously retracting part of FK’s narrative about the three Leviathans from one of his columns to appease the anger of Ralph Ramkarran. This was despite Freddie listing three names that bear no similarity in spelling or pronunciation to the name Ralph Ramkarran, as the three leviathans. Ralph, looking for a mirage, saw his name or somehow misconstrue himself to be one of the Leviathans.
Karran in an act of idiocy alluded to Ralph Ramkarran finding his name in Kissoon’s column where it does not exist as a “valid mistake”. Grossly ludicrous! No wonder Karran seems to have got into the head of Ralph and assert that,” Ralph Ramkarran would never apologize to inferior quality” (Freddie Kissoon). In his baseless attack on Harris, he mistakenly or judiciously revered Freddie by referring to him as a “tabloid warrior” who “ruled the seas” and as a “star columnist”. The most incomprehensible statement in Mr Karran’s missive reads; “It is beyond Kissoon’s wildest expectation to think senior council would grant him the respect he so craves-I hope it’s the printer’s devil at work or could he have intended deserves.
Then that will constitute a fitting tribute to Freddie Kissoon. The remainder of Karran’s missive on the 20 years saga between RR and FK is based on heresay that suits his own agenda. I would suggest that Mr T Karran should try his hand at poetry-poets have a way of saying something while implying another. I had considered Ralph Ramkarran a rounded individual until I recently learned about his encounters with Freddie. In fact I was angry when Bharrat nodded Ramotar ahead of Ralph to run for the presidency.
Maybe Karran could explain why in his opinion (using his words)” the most admired politician” in the PPP/C was by passed by Jagdeo. To do that convincingly he would have to confess how undemocratic the central committee of the PPP/C really is. The present leaders of the PPP/C can’t even tolerate or sustain democracy in their own little shrine (Freedom House), yet they have the audacity to proclaim that they believe in and fought for democracy.
When Castro died something within me, prompted me to read everything everyone had to say about Castro. It was my first encounter with the “Conversation Tree” – Ralph Ramkarran speaking of Guyana/Cuba relationship in the seventies. (Ramkarran’s blog SN, Nov 27th 2016) “It appears as if the Cuban analysis went something like this; the PNC is a friend of Cuba. It is entrenched in power, which it will not share. Cuba’s fraternal party the PPP should therefore support the PNC and strengthen its capacity to resist imperialism. The PPP’s fundamental objection to this was that the PNC held power undemocratically and socialism cannot be built without democracy.” (end of quote).Upon reading this, I took the page out and hid it under my mattress hoping that one day I could get Ralph to explain this to me.
Right now I fear a lawsuit but I shall risk it for an explanation. My contention is; on the one hand, there was a PPP with a “fundamental objection that socialism cannot be built without democracy.” On the other hand, a Cuban leader who never held a general election in Cuba but is hailed as a champion of the socialist cause after his death. Ralph! I am confused with your description of the relationship between socialism and democracy.
If socialism cannot be built without democracy, what was Castro trying to build in Cuba? I wish if Ralph could help me understand this better. My own impression is as follows. Jagan and the PPP in power from 1992 NEVER once through the Guyana/Cuba friendship society suggested that Cuba should work towards holding free and fair elections.
What is good for you should be good for your friends too! The PPP’s analysis that socialism cannot be built without democracy is tantamount to hypocrisy. Socialist leaders hate democracy. If anyone thinks otherwise, then why weren’t there an election in Cuba, North Korea and China in over two decades. The present PPP/C leaders are no different.
When the US ambassador had simply mentioned that local government elections were overdue, Minister Priya unleashed her famous “feral blast” accusing him of interfering in Guyana’s internal affairs. Instead of chiding her, they all supported her. When the Americans restored democracy in 1992 through the Carter Center they did not accuse the Americans of interfering in Guyana’s internal affairs. Unknowingly they added UNGRATEFUL to their repertoire.
Rudolph Singh

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