The Charles Ramson (jnr.) challenge

Jul 03, 2018 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

A firestorm has erupted over the decision of Charles Ramson (jnr.), hereinafter referred to as young Charles, to indicate his desire to become his party’s presidential candidate for the 2020 elections.
According to the PPP’s leader Bharrat Jagdeo, this public canvassing is not the tradition of the PPP. But what is wrong with a young person seeking Guyana’s presidency? What is wrong with someone throwing his hat into the political ring as the PPPC’s presidential candidate?
The tradition to which Jagdeo refers is one in which the Executive Committee of the party – itself a creature of the Central Executive – is the body which chooses the party’s presidential candidate. There is no tradition within the PPPC of persons openly contesting the position.
In the run-up to the 2011 elections, there was open canvassing, but this did not amount to a tradition. In 2011, a number of persons indicated or suggested that they were not to be ruled out for consideration. One member went as far as suggesting that ‘goat did not bite him’ and therefore there was nothing wrong with him being considered for the top post.
Within the PPP, the contest for the presidential candidate was held exclusively within the Executive Committee. Neither the Central Committee of the party nor the wider party membership had any say in the decision. The Executive Committee was then controlled by Bharrat Jagdeo and his choice, Donald Ramotar, prevailed comfortably, after the other main challenger walked out of the contest, the Committee and the party itself.
There is also nothing more democratic about the manner in which the PNCR chooses its presidential candidate. Does anyone truly believe that the PNCR choice for the 2011 elections was not centrally directed?
In the run-up to the 2011 elections, the PNCR, seeking a new image at the top, introduced a system of primaries. But this was mere window-dressing, because the top leadership of the party was able to catapult a political unknown into the spotlight and eventually to receive, after controversial elections during which a gunshot rang out, as the party’s presidential candidate.
The PNCR is yet to convince that it is more democratic than the PPPC when it comes to deciding on its presidential candidate. The 2011 contest was marred by controversy, including claims of one side using the party’s resources to promote its choice.
Jagdeo’s objection to young Charles’s announcement must be viewed solely as a reminder to one and all that there is equally no democratic process within the PPPC. It is his way of saying that there is no competition for the post of presidential candidate.
The presidential candidate is chosen by the Executive Committee. Whoever controls the Executive Committee, effectively decides who that candidate will be. It is no secret who controls the Executive Committee.
By throwing his hat in the ring, young Charles is not suggesting that he is unaware of this process. He is merely indicating that he has an interest and that it is more democratic that this interest be made public.
Young Charles has every right to publicly canvass the members of the Executive Committee of the party. He does have that right. Regardless of how Jagdeo reacts, young Charles should continue to canvass the support of the members of the Executive Committee.
The difficulty he has is that many of those whose support he needs are themselves likely to consider themselves as potential candidates. But he should not get into a tit-for-tat with his leadership since he is bound by that system, however undemocratic it is.
Notwithstanding this, he should not be deterred by criticisms of his political inexperience. Jagdeo was just as youthful as young Charles when he was chosen as the heir to Janet Jagan. The lack of political experience therefore should not be a factor mitigating against the choice of a young person as the party’s presidential candidate. In fact, its holds advantages for the PPPC, which is likely to face someone over the age of 60 from the PNCR, in the 2020 elections. The PNCR seems to have reverted to the formula that whoever is chosen as the party’s Chairman is the leader-in-waiting and therefore is the successor to David Granger, whenever that might be.

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The Charles Ramson (jnr.) challenge

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