Robert Persaud should be the PPP presidential candidate

Dear Editor,
My choice for the presidential candidate of the PPP/Civic in 2011 is none other than Mr Robert Persaud, the current Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Forestry in the Bharrat Jagdeo administration.

Mr Persaud has been a dynamic visionary and a busy minister since he was appointed after the 2006 general elections. He has been travelling the length and breadth of Guyana listening to farmers, offering solutions to their problems, and pursuing plans which are pushing the agricultural sector. Every day Minister Persaud is in the news dealing with issues or has done something.

In the National Assembly he is forceful and a force to be reckoned with in debates. During most sittings of the National Assembly Robert Persaud takes on the opposition, either clarifying matters, taking bills to the National Assembly or debating matters.

There are rumours that Mr Donald Ramotar is tipped to gain the presidential nomination.  He has been the party’s General Secretary, running the party since the death of party leader Cheddi Jagan.  He is an economist and studied in Czechoslovakia for four years when that country was under communist rule.

Since the PPP/C came into office after winning the 1992 elections, Mr Ramotar was never made a minister.  The PPP/C has had four presidents both past and present, yet not one of them ever made Mr Ramotar a minister, despite the fact he was over forty years in the party and a top member.

The PPP/C should give Robert Persaud a try.  I am certain that he will make a good president of Guyana. Guyana needs a mature and energetic president, not a sleepy and slow president who will not get things done.

Yours faithfully,
Baldeo Persaud