I expect a major power struggle between Jagdeo and Ramotar if the PPP wins
October 17, 2011 | By KNews Letters
Dear Editor,
The Constitution says President Jagdeo must leave. Mr. Jagdeo says he is leaving. He has three million dollars every month in presidential pension tax-free waiting for him. But there is nothing to indicate he is leaving. He is still around. He overshadows Donald Ramotar at every turn.
Bharrat Jagdeo’s refusal to respect Ramotar to the extent that leaders do in democracies by marching firmly into the sunset, keeping a low profile and allowing their successor to shine in their own light indicates to me that Jagdeo has no intent to go anywhere far from the intoxicating powers of the presidency.
Donald Ramotar could not have become the PPP’s presidential candidate without some form of deal between him and Bharrat Jagdeo. After all, Jagdeo-ites are the majority in the Central Committee, which decided without a vote to give Ramotar the PPP’s presidential candidacy. Keeping that Jagdeo-friendly Central Committee intact was a big reason for that same Central Committee rejecting to hold a mandatory PPP General Congress this year where all PPP members would have likely voted for a different Central Committee, removing the current Jagdeo influence. Jagdeo and Ramotar could not afford to have a Central Committee they did not control. So they chose dictatorship over democracy in suspending a mandatory PPP congress to set up this nefarious arrangement.
What Ramotar gave up and what Bharrat Jagdeo gained is the question. Ramotar likely had to agree to Jagdeo’s continuing influence in some advisory role to the Presidency if Ramotar won. Ramotar likely agreed to Jagdeo overshadowing him during the campaign in addition to Jagdeoites both on and off the Central Committee dominating any Ramotar government, Cabinet and the PPP’s membership seats in Parliament.
Ramotar got free use of state resources for his campaign in return. This arrangement will backfire spectacularly. Once Donald Ramotar gets a taste of the presidency’s staggering powers if he wins, he will challenge the arrangement and will try to create his own sphere of influence, much like Jagdeo did after he became President. There will be a titanic struggle and a world war within the PPP. More of the party’s membership will be alienated and divided. Guyana will suffer immensely if a governing PPP party is locked in an epic and disastrous internal struggle for power between the Jagdeo camp and the Ramotar camp.
These two leaders have a history of conflict. There was a huge fight over the dominance of the PPP government led by Jagdeo over the PPP party led by Ramotar. History will repeat itself. The political bloodshed within the PPP will be even worse this time around.
The problem is that both a Ramotar-Jagdeo nexus or an independent Ramotar are disastrous for Guyana. Ramotar continuing the failed policies of Jagdeo under the shadow of Jagdeo’s domineering presence will lead to the same morass of crime, corruption, crippling cost of living, growing inequality and the degradation of the rule of law in Guyana. Ramotar operating on his own as President is a danger not only to himself but to the nation and the savings and economic struggles of its people.
Frankly, it is not only unfair to Ramotar but it is insulting for Jagdeo to be sticking around in this fashion. Similarly, it is demeaning and politically destructive for Ramotar to condescend to what seems like acquiescent puppetry. It raises questions about his ability to lead without fear, favour, interference and influence.
In a country that always picks strong leaders, what appears to be Ramotar’s political servility in this setup with Jagdeo is harmful to his ability to win respectability as a leader. The problem is not now. It is what will happen after. I expect some serious bacchanal if the PPP wins power.
M. Maxwell
October 17, 2011 | By KNews Letters
Dear Editor,
The Constitution says President Jagdeo must leave. Mr. Jagdeo says he is leaving. He has three million dollars every month in presidential pension tax-free waiting for him. But there is nothing to indicate he is leaving. He is still around. He overshadows Donald Ramotar at every turn.
Bharrat Jagdeo’s refusal to respect Ramotar to the extent that leaders do in democracies by marching firmly into the sunset, keeping a low profile and allowing their successor to shine in their own light indicates to me that Jagdeo has no intent to go anywhere far from the intoxicating powers of the presidency.
Donald Ramotar could not have become the PPP’s presidential candidate without some form of deal between him and Bharrat Jagdeo. After all, Jagdeo-ites are the majority in the Central Committee, which decided without a vote to give Ramotar the PPP’s presidential candidacy. Keeping that Jagdeo-friendly Central Committee intact was a big reason for that same Central Committee rejecting to hold a mandatory PPP General Congress this year where all PPP members would have likely voted for a different Central Committee, removing the current Jagdeo influence. Jagdeo and Ramotar could not afford to have a Central Committee they did not control. So they chose dictatorship over democracy in suspending a mandatory PPP congress to set up this nefarious arrangement.
What Ramotar gave up and what Bharrat Jagdeo gained is the question. Ramotar likely had to agree to Jagdeo’s continuing influence in some advisory role to the Presidency if Ramotar won. Ramotar likely agreed to Jagdeo overshadowing him during the campaign in addition to Jagdeoites both on and off the Central Committee dominating any Ramotar government, Cabinet and the PPP’s membership seats in Parliament.
Ramotar got free use of state resources for his campaign in return. This arrangement will backfire spectacularly. Once Donald Ramotar gets a taste of the presidency’s staggering powers if he wins, he will challenge the arrangement and will try to create his own sphere of influence, much like Jagdeo did after he became President. There will be a titanic struggle and a world war within the PPP. More of the party’s membership will be alienated and divided. Guyana will suffer immensely if a governing PPP party is locked in an epic and disastrous internal struggle for power between the Jagdeo camp and the Ramotar camp.
These two leaders have a history of conflict. There was a huge fight over the dominance of the PPP government led by Jagdeo over the PPP party led by Ramotar. History will repeat itself. The political bloodshed within the PPP will be even worse this time around.
The problem is that both a Ramotar-Jagdeo nexus or an independent Ramotar are disastrous for Guyana. Ramotar continuing the failed policies of Jagdeo under the shadow of Jagdeo’s domineering presence will lead to the same morass of crime, corruption, crippling cost of living, growing inequality and the degradation of the rule of law in Guyana. Ramotar operating on his own as President is a danger not only to himself but to the nation and the savings and economic struggles of its people.
Frankly, it is not only unfair to Ramotar but it is insulting for Jagdeo to be sticking around in this fashion. Similarly, it is demeaning and politically destructive for Ramotar to condescend to what seems like acquiescent puppetry. It raises questions about his ability to lead without fear, favour, interference and influence.
In a country that always picks strong leaders, what appears to be Ramotar’s political servility in this setup with Jagdeo is harmful to his ability to win respectability as a leader. The problem is not now. It is what will happen after. I expect some serious bacchanal if the PPP wins power.
M. Maxwell
