Dear Editor,
Elections in Guyana are due later this year and at this time each of the two major opposition parties has decided on its Presidential candidate. However, the governing PPP is still to finalize its choice.
In relation to this latter party, in a two-part series in the “In the Diaspora” column of Stabroek News in July 2010 I wrote “So far, at least four candidates are known to be interested in this position. Internal competition is likely to be fierce, some candidates may suffer bruised ego, and without one of the Jagans to give legitimacy to the successful candidate, divisions in the ranks may soon filter down to the grassroots causing disenchantment, apathy, and a low voter turnout”. It is now well known that the internal competition in the PPP took a nasty turn a few months ago and, undoubtedly, disagreement has stalled the selection of a candidate.
Of the four candidates who are currently in the race, it is generally believed that only two individuals are contenders who warrant serious consideration, the party’s General Secretary, Mr. Donald Ramotar, and the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran.
As I look at the positives and the negatives of these two candidates, I believe Mr. Ramkarran will be more acceptable to the electorate in the national elections than Mr. Ramotar. Ramotar’s membership on GUYSUCO’s Board when GAWU was threatened with decertification is not likely to motivate the nearly 20, 000 sugar workers, traditional PPP supporters, to come out and vote. And, to independent voters, his perceived sponsorship by President Bharrat Jagdeo ties him too much to the abuses and excesses of the Government. In fact, many believe that, as General Secretary of the PPP, he has allowed the Government to move too far away from the ethics and principles of the party’s founding leader, Dr. Cheddi Jagan.
In my view, Mr. Ramkarran’s positives far outweigh his negatives. The Ramkarran name has been associated with the PPP from the very beginning and he is likely to benefit from the name recognition and the tremendous goodwill built by his father. The fact that his father was at one time President of GAWU is likely to motivate sugar workers to come out and vote. As well, it will be easier for Mr. Ramkarran to distance himself from the abuses and excesses of the Government. And at the national level he is perceived as less doctrinaire and less divisive. Also very important, because of his age, Ramkarran, if elected, is likely to be a one-term President. This will
give him the freedom to do what is right rather than what is expedient since he is not likely to be constrained about consideration for a second term. Consequently, he is likely to act in the best interest of the country rather than the party.
Ultimately the decision makers in the party will have to make a choice between Mr. Ramotar and Mr. Ramkarran. In my view, the key determining factor should be “which of these two candidates presents the optimal chance of winning the Presidency in the national elections”. In my view, Mr. Ramkarran offers the best chance for the PPP to win the Presidency.
Yours faithfully,
Harry Hergash
