Former President Bharrat Jagdeo is on a list of 31 names released by the PPP/C yesterday to take up their seats in Parliament, virtually sealing his anointment as Opposition Leader.
The inclusion of Jagdeo on the list will affirm the longstanding view that his political ambitions have not waned and that his influence on the 2011-15 Ramotar presidency was potent. During the 2015 election campaign, Jagdeo, who served as President for 12 years, had denied that he was even going to be on the PPP/C’s list for the elections. At a press briefing at Freedom House, on March 28, 2015 Jagdeo had said, “… I will not be on the ticket. I will not be on the list because I am not interested in going into parliament.”
He was nonetheless included on the list and his name has now been extracted for Parliament.
With the likely elevation of Jagdeo, immediate past President Donald Ramotar is not on the list. Analysts say it would be unheard of that the immediate past president would be subordinate to his predecessor. Also missing is the PPP/C’s prime ministerial candidate Elisabeth Harper, an extraordinary development when she had signalled her deep interest in a range of issues after being Ramotar’s surprise choice as running mate.
Also off of the list are former Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and former Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett who provided explanations. Whether intended or not, the PPP/C still has to add one more name to the list released yesterday.
Jagdeo will make his return to the National Assembly where he last served as Finance Minister prior to taking up the presidency in 1999 on the resignation of President Janet Jagan.
The PPP/C in a statement issued yesterday said that it wished to confirm that “its decision of the
