Dear Editor,
Ralph Ramkarran has chosen to resign rather than suffer the slings and arrows of insults from the little Caesars who think they own the PPP party and this country. Mr Ramkarran obviously has a great deal of stature and integrity; if this was not so, the PPP would not be so anxious to get him to return and toe the line. There was no such begging to get Ramjattan or Nagamootoo to return to the party. The little Caesars cannot tolerate any criticisim; there is no room for discussion or debate.
Mr Ramkarran has spoken out on an outrageous and grevious issue; corruption is a cancer which is eating away at the soul of this country. Corruption robs and enriches a chosen few. Corruption means that nurses and medical staff cannot get a proper salary when billions are spent on sole sourcing; the police are underpaid and they are forced to hustle the public to get a raise; teachers don’t teach and lessons have to be paid by parents anxious to give their children a proper education.
Cane-cutters, nurses, teachers, public servants, minibus drivers, commuters, street vendors, the employed and unemployed all know that the PPP is deeply involved in corruption and pays lip service to addressing the issue. We are deeply disappointed with President Ramotar; we believed that he would have changed things, but he has slavishly followed the dictates of his predecessor. Mr Ramkarran should take courage, because he should have been the presidential candidate, and we know that he would have won a majority, would not have rehired his predecessor’s cabinet and would have given this country a chance to breathe and make real progress. We know that he would have stamped out corruption and led us to a better life, where everyone of whatever race would have had an equal chance to be successful. Cheddi Jagan did not believe in corruption, and his legacy has been betrayed. It is time for the people who believe in his vision and dreams for a better Guyana for all the people to reclaim his vision.
Mr Ramkarran should take heart and must stay strong; he will be vindicated. Let the PPP call a snap election or one in 5 years time; we will not vote for them.
Yours faithfully,
Steven Singh
