Luncheon speaks of ‘media management’
If the election of the PPP’s new central committee is an indicator of who its next presidential candidate might be there could be a three-way battle with party stalwart Moses Nagamootoo returning to the fray but being pipped by General Secretary Donald Ramotar and rising star Dr Frank Anthony in the top 5.
Dr Frank Anthony
As they had in 2005, the top two positions were occupied by President Bharrat Jagdeo – who is not eligible for another term – and former President Mrs Janet Jagan while two other oft-mentioned names Robert Persaud and Ralph Ramkarran placed 9th and 22 respectively.
There are five new faces on the Central Committee including Dr Anthony who polled the third highest number.
In brief remarks on his return to the leadership of the party, Nagamootoo said that he saw his comeback as a re-affirmation of the desire of the party’s rank and file for the strongest possible unity in the leadership of the party. Nagamootoo had not attended the previous congress after a falling out with the party.
And as the 29th Congress of the party ended at the Diamond Secondary School yesterday, PPP Central Committee Member and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon told a closed session that media management and how to use the new media to confound the “hostile media” is one of the main areas of focus of the PPP as it moves to the 2011 general elections.
In his presentation on ‘A vision for 2011’ the PPP Central Committee member and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, said that in the run up to the next general elections the party has to look at the media from two perspectives.
In the first instance he said that the media has to take the message of the party and the achievements it has made in government to all parts of Guyana. People have a right to information he noted.
On the other hand, he said that there was also need for media management in which the media should also be held more accountable for its actions.
Without mentioning names, he said there were media that were enemies of the PPP which made them enemies of progress and the party has to “use the new media to confound them.”
“We have to deal with the media…left unbridled they will be a permanent thorn in the side of the PPP come 2011,” Dr Luncheon said.
Speaking about the selection of a presidential candidate for the 2011 elections, Dr Luncheon said the choice of a candidate would be done in 2010 in a special mechanism that would be done exclusively by the party and not by the media or external forces.
He said the party has already taken note of the attention the “hostile media, critical media” was paying to the issue of a PPP/C presidential candidate. The hostile media, he said sarcastically “knows more about this party than we do” adding that PPP members need to commit themselves to ensuring that the issue of a presidential candidate remains internal to the PPP.
Donald Ramotar
While the issue of the media and the choice of a presidential candidate were key to 2011, he said that the party would also have to find a way of handling its internal image given the impression the hostile media was conveying internationally.
The media, particularly Stabroek News came under harsh criticism by President Jagdeo and the party’s Central Committee in its report to the congress.
Wrapping up the congress yesterday was a political declaration which was explained by Central Committee member Indra Chandarpal.
The declaration spoke of the party and its objectives particularly in maintaining unity in its leadership and among members in the run up to the 2011 general and regional elections; and building unity and declaring its readiness to engage with the PNCR and the AFC and any other opposition group so inclined to discuss areas of disagreement and policies in order to arrive at unified positions for the benefit of the people.
On the economy, the party declared that critical features of economic development at this time are the maintenance of economic stability, encouraging investment, increasing economic growth, the completion of the Skeldon sugar factory, the completion of the Berbice River Bridge, the construction of the Amaila Hydro Project, and increasing food production for consumption and export.
The declaration reflected on its social sector policy and noted that Guyana spends a larger percentage (over 30%) of its budget on social services than many other countries and registered more advances in the past 15 years than in the 50 years before that.
Moses Nagamootoo
The party declared that the rule of law flourishes and the media was free in Guyana with criticisms of the government flowing freely although from time to time there have been tensions between the two.
In dealing with the issues of crime and security, the party expressed its unwavering support for the security forces in their daily and deadly battles against determined criminals and called on other political parties and stakeholders to join with them in doing so.
In focusing on workers and farmers, the party urged them not to limit their interests only to their own welfare but to become involved in issues of national importance and become active in trades unions, farmers’ organizations, as well as in community developments groups, parent-teachers associations and others.
The party expressed continued support to, and confidence in the Women’s Progressive Organization (WPO) and the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) as they continue to build their organisations to motivate their members, to promote the party’s agenda and to militantly fight for the realization of the goals of the PPP.
On the PPP/Civic alliance the party declared its continued support to the alliance and rededicated its commitment to work for its strengthening.
The party also urged members to study the Central Committee Report also known as the General Secretary’s report, discuss it and develop plans and campaigns to implement its conclusions and recommendations in their political work.
The last item before the close of the congress was the announcement of the 35 members of the party elected to the Central Committee and five Candidate Members also known as non-voting members of the Central Committee. A total of 913 votes were cast from a list of 1020 delegates.
Those elected to the Central Committee are Bharrat Jagdeo, 777 votes; Mrs Janet Jagan, 671; Dr Frank Anthony, 658; Donald Ramotar, 637; Moses Nagamootoo, 595; Roger Luncheon, 588; Navin Chandarpal, 582; Gail Teixeira, 558; Robert Persaud, 542; Indra Chandarpal, 524; Clement Rohee, 507; Clinton Collymore, 472; Komal Chand, 449; Ganga Persaud, 445; Hydar Ally, 443; Zulfikar Mustapha, 437; Anil Nandlall, 436; Ali Baksh, 430; Bheri Ramsaran, 393, Irfan Ali, 380; Jaffar Ali, 375; Ralph Ramkarran, 374; Harripersaud Nokta, 370; Ulric Ramanah, 363; Neil Kumar, 362; Jennifer Westford, 360; Cyril Belgrave, 332; Dharamkumar Seeraj, 332; Kellawan Lall, 324; Pauline Sukhai, 309; Reepu Daman Persaud, 300; Moti Lall, 286; Harinarine Baldeo, 270; Mitra Devi Ali, 251, and Shirley Edwards, 246.
The five new faces are Dr Frank Anthony, Irfan Ali, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Pauline Sukhai and Jaffar Ali. Those who lost theirs were Philomena Sahoye-Shury, Premchand Dass, Harrinarine Nawbatt and Bibi Shadick. The death of Satyadeow Sawh also created a vacancy.
The five candidate or non-voting members are Bijulee Moti, Anuppattie Veeren, Majeed Hussain, Ramdat Ramlakhan, and Chandilall Seechanlall.
The members of the new Central Committee will be required to elect a new Executive Committee for the party at its first meeting. At the same time secretaries to the various committees, including the party’s General Secretary would be elected.
While Anthony zoomed straight to number three after not being in the previous central committee, Persaud and Ramotar stayed around their same positions while Ramkarran fell from 13 to 22. Party stalwart Reepu Daman Persaud moved from 12 to 31 and another senior party functionary Navin Chandarpal from 3 to 7.
1. Bharrat Jagdeo 777
2. Janet Jagan 671
3. Frank Anthony 658
4. Donald Ramotar 637
5. Moses Nagamootoo 595
6. Roger Luncheon 588
7. Navin Chandarpal 582
8. Gail Teixeira 558
9. Robert Persaud 542
10. Indra Chandarpal 524
I think that the obsession this administration has with the media is a big joke,there are so many important things that they should be giving more attention to! The media has a job to do,and they are doing their job,it is their job to” know everything about the party than they do”,there should be no secrets from the media,the people should be kept informed.Why is SN bothering to cover the congress,how would they like it if there was no coverage.I think they should grow up,you want to lead a country,the media goes with the territory.
WELL I DO NOT KNOW OF BEFORE,BUT BETWEEN THE 1980 AND NOW THERE IS IS A DIFFERENCE IN GUYANA.
to elect younger people is in the right direction.I proud of whichever young persons were able to navigate through the party politics and move to the frontlines.
its a good sign for guyana.
Its interesting to discuss the elections at party congress. The big question is on what basis would the delegates have chosen the persons for whom to vote. Is there any mechanism to facilitate the familiarisation of the contestants.
Is there a real possibility that protegees and favourites can be given unfair advantage in the way they are exposed to the membership.
For instance they can be presented at various forum throughout the country. They can be given the task to say something at the plenary sessions of congress.
For example. mr Irfan Alli is a relatively new member. We know he is a protegee of the president and he was placed to give a message to the plenary session.
When Mr. Hydar ally was contesting for the CC some time ago that very congress he was made chairman of the congress committee and so had to visit all areas and meet with members as an official. The same for zulficar Mustapha, Jafar Ally and Robert Persaud who were members at one time or the other members of that committee. As we know Bharrat was an unknown and would not have gotten into the CC before he became a minister. The same can be said of Minister Westford and Shadeek.
One see that usually those who are critical of the leadership in the way they exercise authority and govern this country are not given any such opportunities.
In this way the dynamics of the party mechanism is used to determine the CC.
THEY ARE ALL THE SAME NO CHANGE ,PUT A AFRO GUYANSES FACE IN THE MIX ???
I WOULD SAY THE SAME THING WHEN THE PNC CONGRESS COME AROUND TOO IF I DONT SEE A INDO-GUYANESE FACE IN THE MIX
Sometimes I think the “race” is overemphasised to the detriment of class interest.
Do we as individuals feel that we speak with a tongue that has not been fashioned by the exposure that we endured during our life time?
Do we have interests that crosse race lines?
Are races homogeneous units. Is it important to recognise the class interest that resides below the colour of a man’s skin?
Do members of the working class have special interests that demand units with respect to such interests. Do business people have special interests?
Who are more conscious of their interests?
Is the press owned mostly by business going to be completely balanced and objective when it comes to class interests or would they manipulate the minds of the people to fit their own interests?
How do we know that we are or are not reflecting the views of forces whose interests may very well be inimical to those of ourselves and the class that we belong to?
Do you think an indian business man who employs only indians would give them increase in salaries because they are indians or would he work to maximise his profits at the expense of wages?
In the world today are the rich getting richer and the people who produce getting poorer. Are rich countries getting richer and the poor ones poorer?
Do you feel the present economic structure is capable of resolving this problem?
For intstance where is all the oil super profits going?
Do we have objective knowledge of possible alternative structure.
Do you feel the present media owned and controlled by the rich would educate us with regards to this issue? Would they rather use their pages to ensure that we are conditioned to reject possible alternatives?
We need to start thinking, speaking and writing more deeply.
A solution is urgent. The world and I mean the physical one cannot sustain more and its not going to last very long unless we do something about it.
We need to first understand the paradigm within which we think and then try to understand which paradigm of thinking may be the better with which to understand and could possibly represent our interests in a more meaningful manner..
lol you are hilarious. the thing is that regardless of who is running on the ppp ticket it will be the same divisive politics and “ah we time now”
Congratulations to the PPP for holding its largest congress in a mature manner. The Central Committee elections results speak for themselves. Why wasn’t seasoned and respected member Feroze Mohamed not elected a member of the CC? Did he choose not to be in the race?
The question I raised before is whether there is manipulation of the dynamics of party function so as to push certain favoutites and protegees at the expense of lojng standing members who are marginalised because they rend to ask questions, emonstrate independence of thinking and are critical of certain ways and policies of the government and party.
How do we explain the sudden rise of Robert persaud and Shadik and Westford among others? These are relative new commers and are not rooted in the masses the sork of the party and its ideology. Are there other long standing members that are being bypassed, and who are they. has the media ever done any investigations any analysis?
This congress was more about the PNC and the media than about the PPP. They are obsessed. And please, don’t ever mention Donal Ramotar as Presidential material, he is just an extension of Jagdeo, all he talks about is the PNC and its supporters being criminals, remember Jagdeo at Babbu John?
The media has a great role to play in stability and development of any country that is why the govt has to focus on them especially if they are biased
WHAT ABOUT THE CHRONICLE AND NCN TALK ABOUT BIASED
Whoever becomes the Pres. Candidate, expect the same as obtained from Jagdeo. These people idolise Jagan as their god and we must expect no changes in mode of running Guyana.
Is this really so. Many of the persons being pushed into leadership have no clue with regards Jagans legacy his policies or his ideology.
There is a debate in the letter column of the Stabroek news at the moment with writers argueing that the present leadership have betrayed jagans legacy. Many of you may want to shout out against marxism but first I want you to ask yourself what ideology have you internalised. Say so before jumping to the attack. Possibly say why you support the ideology that you have and then move to criticise the other.
Please then enter the debate with an open mind because truth is not simply what you think to be correct.
I am still trying to see if anything came out of this ‘Congress’ other than blaming the failures and lost opportunities under their administration on everyone and everything but themselves.
I seem to be wrongly opined that a ‘Party Congress’ (I have never been to one) is to elect that party’s leaders, to analyse and adjust the party’s ideologies and manifestos, to explore strategies for increasing and educating its membership.
This gathering seemed just obsessed with flogging the dead horses of ‘PNC dictatorial mismanagement’ and ‘unfair portrayal and attacks by the media.’
Can anyone say what is the PPP’s ideology? Is it still Marxist Socialist?
(Don’t jump on me just yet folks- I will ask the same of each of the 100 or so political entities resident in our country) That was its ideological tenet according to the then co-founder/leader Hon. Dr. Cheddi B. Jagan (a man whose literary works I have read and admire, and who performed the ONLY painless tooth extraction I have ever experienced – I was aged about 6)
It’s amazing how dense these Guyanese local politicians are and I’m talking about both major political parties. The PPP is set and ready to head into the same abyss for a second time like the PNC did. Those who don’t understand or interpret history accurately are proned to repeat the same mistakes of the past.
From the inception, Guyana’s politics has been plagued with issues of Legitimacy. Dr Jagan lost his Premiership in the 60’s because elements outside and inside of Guyana never recoganized his Legitimacy. At the time, Dr Jagan never understood that his fight was a search for Legitimacy.
Forbes Burnham and the PNC relinquished power under the pressure of his search for Legitimacy. The slick unraveling, by the PNC, of the collation with the United Force was the trigger that ignited Burnham’s mad search for Legitimacy. He too was unaware of the ghost.
The PPP internal party selection of Jagdeo over Nagamootoo, Ramotar et al plunged Jadgeo into his search for Legitimacy, and that search is still continuing today. By over looking Sam Hinds, who incidentally acts as the President of Guyana in Jagdeo’s absence everytime, the PPP is again tying the hands of the new leader regardless of who he or she maybe.
The lack of Legitimacy is the curse of no-confidence which drives reasonable and sane leaders to view every criticism, even the most innocent as a threat to be destroyed immediately. The media becomes the ‘boogie-man’ that has to be stopped even if they are reporting the truth. Guyana needs a better mechanism for selecting or electing our political party leaders. None of Guyana’s former Presidents enjoyed uncondtitonal Legitimacy so it’s about time the people start ensuring this prerequisite for leadership.