Dear Editor,
The list of personalities interested in the candidacy for president from the various political parties is becoming more and more interesting, if not encouraging. It is indeed somewhat refreshing to see that among these would-be presidential candidates are a few personalities who, over the years have not lived ‘off politics,’ but who are professionals that have spent the greater part of their lives earning an honest living based on their skills and qualifications.
Ralph Ramkarran, though a longstanding member of the PPP, has earned his living as a reputable attorney-at-law. He has not lived ‘off politics.’ He has and can continue to earn a decent living regardless of whether he is in politics or not.
David Granger, according to your recent interview with him, is a relatively new member of the PNC. Prior to his retirement, Granger served the government and people of Guyana as a professional soldier. After retirement Granger launched the Guyana Review magazine. I am sure he earned an honest living from his professional work over the years. Granger has not lived ‘off politics’ and will continue to live comfortably without being involved in politics.
While many of the other likely candidates – Robert Corbin, Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo and Winston Murray – are professionals, I am not quite sure how well they would have done professionally had it not been for politics. Murray is perhaps an exception in that he was an economist before becoming a politician and lawyer and was widely accepted as a competent public servant.
Donald Ramotar, from the information I have, has lived ‘off politics’ and perhaps ‘for politics’ all his adult life.
Living ‘off politics’ should not preclude anyone from seeking the presidency. But we need to hear from these presidential aspirants how they would tackle the many pressing issues facing Guyana. Stabroek News should give each of the serious aspiring presidents some space to outline their personal mini-manifesto. A column entitled ‘If I am President’ should be informative and educative and give us a better understanding of the candidates and their intended policies.
I would like to hear/read mini-manifestos from Ralph Ramkarran, Donald Ramotar, and though not a candidate as yet, Dr Frank Anthony from the PPP, Winston Murray and David Granger from the PNC and Khemraj Ramjattan from the AFC. This way the electorate should be able to identify the similarities and differences in policies and implementation strategies of these presidential hopefuls.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
