PPP likely to select candidate early in new year -Ramotar

The PPP is likely to select its presidential candidate for the 2011 General Elections early in the new year, according to the party’s General Secretary and presidential hopeful Donald Ramotar. Speaking with Stabroek News yesterday, Ramotar said there had been no major developments since the party announced in September that it would be retaining its old selection procedure to choose its candidate. According to him, several matters are still being discussed and as soon as a decision on the individual is made, the public would be informed.

“I suspect a decision will be made early in the new year … from my experience I believe that will be it,” Ramotar stated. He added that there is a “general idea” about who the candidate will be but several leadership meetings were still to be held.

(FILE PHOTO) Donald Ramotar speaking recently at the PPP's 60th anniversary dinner

The General Secretary, who has indicated his interest in the candidacy, is seen as one of the frontrunners while the others to publicly announce their availability are Speaker of the House Ralph Ramkarran, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and MP Moses Nagamootoo. Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud has also been mentioned as a possible choice and Stabroek News has been reliably informed that efforts are being made to get him to cast his lot in the race. However, Persaud has made no public pronouncement on his availability.

Nagamootoo has questioned what he calls the “state sponsorship” of Ramotar for the party’s presidential nomination, owing to his inclusion on cabinet outreaches and on overseas visits by President Bharrat Jagdeo. The attorney said he was opposed to a single candidate being recommended by the party leadership and he contended that Ramotar’s inclusion was disadvantageous to other candidates. “This is deliberately selective and unfair” and could derail the selection process, he stated while adding that “if this continues, I will withdraw from the process.”

Nagamootoo is on record as saying that the selection of the candidate should involve all the party’s membership, noting that the current procedure is outdated. He had been advocating for a system to be put in place where potential candidates could declare their interest and their availability and submit data that could be circulated to the party members. He also said that if he did not receive the party’s nod he would support another candidate, once the selection was done in an open and democratic manner.

However, in a September statement, the PPP announced that its presidential candidate would be selected according to the procedure it has always used. “The document, which was recently ratified, reinforces the party’s long-standing and tested procedure on the selection of a presidential candidate,” the party said.

The PPP explained that the procedure allows for the nomination/expression of interest by interested individuals, deliberations at the level of the Executive Committee, and subsequent approval by the Central Committee.  “The approved candidate will then be announced to the membership through regional conferences,” the party added, while pointing out that the process was used in the selection of late Presidents Dr Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Janet Jagan as well as President Jagdeo to contest the general elections.

Further, the PPP noted that the selection document outlines a code of conduct which potential presidential candidates and their supporters must adhere to before and after the selection of the agreed presidential candidate.

Unlike the last two general elections, there is no automatic presidential candidate for the PPP, owing to the ineligibility of President Jagdeo to seek re-election because of a constitutional term-limit.

The main opposition party, the PNCR, has also indicated that its candidate will be identified early next year with February 19 given as the date by which a Special Congress is to be convened and that individual elected.

The AFC has already settled on its candidate, with party Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan identified to be the presidential candidate and Vice-chairperson Sheila Holder as the prime ministerial choice.