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 Opposition Leader has been fully endorsed by the Party’s Central Committee. Full disclosure in respect of those parliamentarians who will fill the position of Leader of the Opposition and Chief Whip will take place at the swearing-in of the thirty two (32) PPP Members of Parliament.”
The party has replaced just under one third of its MPs from the 10th Parliament. Other notables off the list include former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds; Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn; Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud; Human Services Minister, Jennifer Webster and Local Government Minister, Norman Whittaker.
According to the statement issued by the party, hours after the weekly press briefing where General Secretary Clement Rohee was asked about the much anticipated MPs list to no avail, Singh and Rodrigues-Birkett had both requested that their unavailability to serve in the 11th Parliament be made public.
The statement issued said that Rodrigues-Birkett has decided to take on overseas work which would take her away from Guyana for extended periods which would not be conducive to the time necessary to fulfil the obligations of a Parliamentarian. As for Singh he noted that he was still firmly committed to the party but did not divulge what his personal and other commitments were that would make it difficult for him to occupy a seat in the National Assembly.
The party’s statement noted that both Rodrigues-Birkett and Singh had been approached to join the party in the National Assembly. It gave no explanation for the other ministers who were left off.
The PPP/C has added new faces such as the party’s secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha, former Permanent Secretary under the Local Government Ministry Collin Croal and Clive Jagan, the nephew of the late party founder Dr Cheddi Jagan.
Additionally, the party has stuck by former Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford who is currently embroiled in an investigation over the transfer of several state-owned vehicles into the names of several individuals including herself.
Former Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, who was fired by former president Ramotar following verbal abuse of rights activist, Sherlina Nageer on April 20 outside of the Whim Magistrate’s Court, will also be occupying a seat in the 11th Parliament. Ramsaran was fired just 12 days prior to the May 11, General and Regional Elections after mounting public pressure.
Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall will also make a return the National Assembly. The former Attorney General was himself embroiled in controversy last October when he was recorded allegedly making threatening remarks against the Kaieteur News. The DPP in December recommended that no charges be laid in the matter while the Ramotar administration even after mounting
pressure refused to discipline him or remove him from office.
Returning to serve the PPP/C are longstanding party member Gail Teixeira, who was the government’s Chief Whip; former Agriculture Minister, Leslie Ramsammy; former Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai; former Home Affairs Minister, Rohee; former Culture Minister, Frank Anthony, former Education Minister, Priya Manickchand; former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali; trade unionist Komal Chand, Vindhya Persaud, Ganga Persaud, Indra Chanderpal, Nigel Dharamlall, Juan Edghill, Odinga Lumumba, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Cornel Damon, Neil Kumar, Joseph Hamilton and Vishwa Mahadeo.
The party also added Africo Selman, who joined the campaign after leaving APNU after she got into a physical and verbal altercation with then Opposition Chief Whip Amna Ally. The PPP/C benches will see several new faces and relative unknowns to the political scene in Charles Ramson Jr, Adrian Anamayah, Alister Charlie and Gillian Persaud.
During the party’s press conference yesterday and prior to the release of the list, Rohee was asked about the likely absence of Ramotar and Harper to which he noted that they would be the best persons to speak to on the matter.
According to the PPP/C, the list is indicative of “a good blend of youth and experienced parliamentarians,” adding that “the party has not made a decision regarding when these Members of Parliament will take their seats in Parliament,” noting that consultations were ongoing. The next siting of the National Assembly will be tomorrow.
