Jagdeo sought invitation to Manhattan parade of Indian-Americans

Dear Editor,

In mid-July one of President  Jagdeo’s staff  sent an  email to the Federation of Indian Americans (FIA), asking that Jagdeo be invited to the FIA parade which will be held on 21st August in Manhattan. Jagdeo also asked to be part of the ringing of the bell at the New York Stock Exchange on 22nd August. He requested too to attend a dinner for the Prime Minister of India. The parade is expected to attract 250,000 people or one third of Guyana’s local population. The FIA was reluctant to invite Jagdeo to its celebrations but since he had mentioned that the Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar was invited last year the organization acquiesced to his request. Jagdeo’s handpicked PPP’s presidential candidate Donald Ramotar will off course accompany him.

That Jagdeo wanted so badly to be part of the FIA events must be seen as an election ploy to shore up his, and Ramotar’s , failing election campaign.

Specifically, Jagdeo and Ramotar would use the parade to appeal to the Indian-Guyanese voters who have so far shunned PPP bottom house and public meetings.

Much electoral propaganda then will be made of Jagdeo and Ramotar’s participation in the FIA activities.

Ironically, whilst Jagdeo seeks to exploit the FIA events, the Indian-Guyanese continue to flee Guyana 19 years after PPP rule. In fact I wonder how Jagdeo felt when he met Indian-Guyanese in tiny St Kitts doing menial jobs rather than live under his regime. How did he feel when he met Indian-Guyanese in Barbados, some of whom prefer to live in sheds rather than live under his government. Jagdeo even begged Indian-Guyanese to return home and register for the elections.

It is time that Indian Guyanese get rid of the Jagdeo/Ramotar front that has kept them in fear of other Guyanese. One sure way to defeat them is to vote for APNU.

A Partnership for National Unity, APNU, led by David Granger and Rupert Roopnaraine, will form a government of national unity in which all Guyanese will be represented.

Not only will APNU invite the AFC presidential candidate Khemraj Ramjattan,  but also the honest and pro worker members of the PPP such as Moses Nagamootoo , Navin Chanderpal, and Komal Chand  into an APNU government spearheaded by President David Granger.

Yours faithfully,
Malcolm Harripaul