Dear Editor,
I refer to SN’s editorial of April 10 captioned ‘Concensus’ commenting on the PPP’s selection process of its presidential candidate.
A little over a year ago SN published a few of my letters in which I called for an open primary in the PPP, namely, a system to allow the approximately 2,000 members of the party to elect their presidential candidate. So why didn’t the party open up to some basic reform, rather than stick to an anachronistic process called democratic centralism?
Laying blame for this failure on the party is too vague. The members are the party. The members have names. Be specific and name those members who allowed this to happen. Over a year ago in a letter in SN, I identified Mr Ralph Ramkarran as a timid man who woefully lacks leadership qualities. And, now in this most crucial meeting he remained true to form, never disappointing, and meekly submitting; he withdrew his nomination forms. So much for Mr Ramkarran’s contribution to further the cause of democracy.
A year ago when Mr Ramkarran should have barnstormed the country, calling on all party group leaders to agitate for a primary vote, he remained holed up in his office in the capital city. Not once did he call for the open primary. What manner of man or leader, now in the second decade of the 21st century, would not embrace the open primary?
Mr Ramkarran wrote those silly letters in the independent press citing some event in Ireland and calling for “secret ballot.” What secret ballot? Mr Ramkarran not only lacks leadership qualities, he lacks vision. Without vision, there is no leader.
Now, because of what Mr Ramkarran did or did not do, Mr Ramotar will be foisted upon this nation as the next president. Given the electoral maths, Mr Ramotar’s election to the presidency is a foregone conclusion.
What skills, formal education and training and work experience does Mr Ramotar bring to his new job is unknown. Never mind about all the black holes on Mr Ramotar’s resume. He will be the next president. It will be Guy-ana’s next headache. This is all about machine politics. How do you get rid of machine politics?
Yours faithfully,
Mike Persaud
