Good governance, security, and bridging the  racial divide is Khemraj Ramjattan’s passion

AFC Presidential Candidate, Khemraj  Ramjattan

(This is the second in a series of articles featuring Presidential Candidates of the main political parties ahead of this year’s general elections. This week, the Alliance for Change’s Khemraj Ramjattan makes startling revelations of inner workings of the ruling PPP, from which he was ousted, and how he plans to bring about change in Guyana if elected.)

When the Alliance for Change (AFC) emerged as a political party with progressive thinkers Raphael Trotman and Khemraj Ramjattan, many hailed it as the Third Force to raise Guyana out of decades of political morass, characterised by hostile politics and a continuing racial divide that stifled real development. It achieved a feat that is unheard of in Caribbean politics. Within just seven months of its formation, the AFC faced the electorate, and a whopping 28,000 votes came in. “It was fantastic,” Ramjattan says, the excitement was as fresh as when the results were announced in August 2006. Ramjattan had become an outspoken advocate for change within the corridors of Freedom House, which housed the ideologues of Marxism, Leninism and Communism of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Trotman, touted as one of the bright stars that could reverse the fading fortunes of the People’s National Congress and do away with its old style of politics, was disenchanted when his ideas fizzled into thin air. A propitious meeting in Helsinki, Finland organised by the World Bank, to which Ramjattan, Trotman, and Working People’s Alliance Parliamentarian Sheila Holder were invited, proved to be just the platform they needed to discuss the idea of a brand new movement that would be distinctly different from the PPP and PNC, which would seek support from ethnic bases and preach reconciliation and harmony. The trio returned to Guyana after the conference, and had discussions with others who were excited about the birth of a new political entity. What shocked Ramjattan the most was the sheer number of Guyanese businessmen who were ready to support the idea and dole out the cash to get the movement on the road. The idea now developed, Ramjattan and Trotman, together with Holder,  were determined to do away with the racial politics that have dominated Guyana since 1955 when two factions of the PPP developed, with Afro Guyanese supporting Forbes Burnham and Indo Guyanese supporting Dr Cheddi Jagan. Ramjattan and Trotman decided that they could best erase the ethnic sensitivities by choosing to rotate who would be presidential candidate, and to even split terms as president, if the AFC were elected to the seat of government. The way it would work is that no one candidate would always run for the presidency, but that the party would put up a candidate from a different ethnicity (from the dominant Indo and Afro Guyanese population) at every election. As a result, Trotman ran for the Presidency in 2006 and now its Ramjattan’s turn. “When we made the arrangement we had indicated as a method to take care of ethnic challenge, the ethnic fears and the ethnic insecurities.” If they were to win the seat of government, one of them would be president for the first half of the term, and the other the second half. The same principle would apply if they were to lead the opposition and they had to decide on an opposition leader. “If Burnham and Jagan had worked out a rotational principle they could have led the country and not cause the divisiveness of the Burnham and Jagan factions.” But this time around, Trotman is not Ramjattan’s running mate.  Trotman decided to forego his Prime Ministerial nomination to make way for a woman, Sheila Holder.

Listening attentively at  a community meeting

“It was very magnanimous on his part,” Ramjattan says of Trotman’s move. Many see it as a sort of downward slide for the AFC, given that the seats which the AFC earned in the National Assembly were primarily because of Afro-Guyanese votes – mainly because of Trotman as the Presidential Candidate. Ramjattan finds that argument “fallacious.” “I am very confident that it was the concept of new party and the principles that we stood for that got the votes; it was not personality,” Ramjattan asserts. But he admits that the AFC did not get a sizeable amount of Indo Guyanese votes, mainly because, the PPP “scandalised” the AFC as just another PNC, and so a lot of the disenchanted PPP Indo Guyanese supporters chose not to vote for the AFC but to stay home. Ramjattan sees evidence of this in the fact that the PPP received 50,000 less votes in 2006 than it did in 2001. This time around, Ramjattan is confident that the AFC will attract more Indo Guyanese votes, and if the AFC does not win the seat of government, at least it will cut down the majority the PPP has. More than anyone else in the AFC, and perhaps no one in other political parties, has faced the constant attacks of the PPP than Ramjattan. He has even been called “cock-eye” on public platforms. “I was a good cock-eye for them when they needed me,” Ramjattan lashes back. “I do sometimes feel how ungrateful these people could be.” Indeed, Ramjattan knows the PPP well, and it is perhaps that which frightens the leaders in Freedom House the most, he surmises. Even so, Ramjattan is not surprised by the attacks against him. “They are locked into their mentality and ideological positioning, so that no matter what reasoning you give them, they will be control freaks and they are going to be nasty to opponents and dissidents.” Even when he was a member of the PPP, Ramjattan was seen as a dangerous force that could not be silenced, and it is this that ultimately got him booted out of the party; a party to which generations of Ramjattans were faithful. Early life Khemraj Ramjattan, LLB. (UWI) LEC (UWI), was born on October 12, 1960, at No. 48 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. “Prakash” or “Prak” as he is fondly known, was born into and grew up in a grassroot, humble political family on the Corentyne. His father, Teekha, was a head teacher, while his mother Rohonie, was always a housewife who played an active role in the farm the family also had. Teekha Ramjattan was a graduate of the University of Guyana, and had served different schools in senior positions, including schools on the West Coast Demerara, East Coast Demerara and Berbice. But the meagre wages of teachers then made it imperative that they work the lands. The family had a 40-acre rice field, and also a small coconut farm. Growing up, Ramjattan and his sister Sattie, who eventually married into a Bengali Pawaroo family, were also involved in the farming activities, something which Ramjattan enjoyed very much. As a result of moves his father made, including University, Ramjattan spent time growing up in Georgetown. He eventually completed high school at J C Chandisingh Secondary, and then moved to Georgetown when he decided to pursue studies in law. Law fascinated him. His uncle, Nawbatt Ramjattan, was a prosecutor and a detective trained at Scotland Yard, and intrigued them with stories whenever visits to the family were made. Ramjattan’s father also spoke highly of legal eagles in Guyana. “As a little boy, hearing them talk and having such high regard for lawyers as generally very bright people, I decided to study law,” Ramjattan recalls.

With his wife and their two sons

 

He had also reasoned that it was an independent profession, “and besides, knowing the laws of the country can make you involved in a variety of vocations, in any sphere of activity.” After completing studies in law at the University of Guyana and at the University of the West Indies, he became a State Counsel in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and rose rapidly in the legal profession, eventually setting up his own legal practice. The most exciting cases were the murder trials he prosecuted, coming up against luminaries such as Bernard DeSantos, Doodnauth Singh and Rex McKay. But Ramjattan wasn’t intimidated, especially since he had brilliant minds like Ian Chang and George Jackman in the DPP’s Chambers that he could rely on for sound advice. “I had strong self confidence from very early,” Ramjattan says. It was one of those successful murder trials he prosecuted that made him come into contact with his wife, Sita. She was a witness in a case, and the two eventually starting courting. They got married 21 years ago, and they have two sons together – Vikash, 21, and Divesh, 18. Ramjattan has participated in many national and international workshops and seminars, and contributed to numerous discussions and public debates on issues of mal-administration, good governance, undue political interference by the state, unprofessional and unethical behaviour, among other topics. He is Editor of the Guyana Bar Review. An ardent cricketer, but a little too old for the National team, he is satisfied being President of the Gandhi Youth Cricket Club. POLITICS Entering politics was almost automatic for Ramjattan.  As a young boy, he found politics intriguing and fascinating, and he came to idolize Dr Cheddi Jagan. In fact, Dr Jagan was an idol for the entire Ramjattan clan and so his movement into the PPP was almost automatic. His grandfather and father were staunch members of the PPP and were “part and parcel of the early struggles with Jagan for independence.” Ramjattan’s grandfather would host meetings of the PPP at his rice mill, and as a boy, he heard the glowing speeches of Dr Jagan. He remembers the stormy elections, moreover the controversy surrounding the 1973 elections when three PPP supporters were killed by soldiers who were ordered to secure ballot boxes. One of Ramjattan’s uncles was badly beaten by soldiers who had taken the ballot boxes from the No. 47 Primary School. Of course, much of the tension of the politics involved ethnic strife, but Ramjattan’s father would have none of it. As a teacher, the elder Ramjattan had lots of black friends, and as a sociable person, would invite many of them to their home. “My dad made sure he did not inculcate any stereotypes about black people into us.” At the time of joining university, Ramjattan had to enroll in the National Service, and there he came to appreciate more the value of unity of all ethnicities. “I lived among Afro Guyanese brothers and sisters at that difficult time in our history and I enjoyed it; I really enjoyed it.” The only problem with Kimbia (the location to which he was posted) was that Ramjattan was no good at drills. He cheerfully reflected that the Sergeant would tell him he looked like a “dried up chowmein.” Ramjattan joined the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), the youth arm of the PPP, while still in University, and move up rapidly. Navin Chandarpal, another PPP stalwart, was the head of the PYO at the time Ramjattan joined. “Dr Cheddi wanted bright, committed young persons who could do the party work and I guess I was one of those persons.” Ramjattan was sent by the PYO to the World Festival of Youths and Students in North Korea and then to a Latin American Legal Seminar held in Havana. But it was Ramjattan’s progressive thinking that would get him into trouble with the PPP. He had become chairman of the PYO in 1988 and started to realize that there was need for a change in course. Ramjattan had always questioned the hardcore Marxist, Leninist, and Communist ideology of the PPP, especially after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990. This brought him into heated arguments with Feroze Mohamed, one of the main political ideologues in the PPP. He also had robust debates with Dr Roger Luncheon. Ramjattan did not like the concept of democratic centralism as an organisation principle. He thought it was a deceptive political tool that was not a legitimate form of democratic governance. He decided that at least he could bring about change at the level of the PYO. He did not get the outright support of Dr. Jagan, but once the PPP leader was convinced that the PYO was a sort of autonomous body that could change its constitution if it wanted to, Ramjattan was allowed to make his move at the PYO Congress at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara in mid-1994. Dr Jagan was surprised at the outcome. With the support of the Congress, Ramjattan struck out from the PYO constitution any mention of Marxism, Lennism and Communism, replacing these with the words “national democratic principles” as representing the guiding force of the PYO. But Mrs Janet Jagan was not at all pleased at what had transpired; Ramjattan held up to his argument. “The young people didn’t want anything to do with these hardcore ideological principles,” Ramjattan argued. But the repercussions would soon come. A few months after the congress, Ramjattan contested for one of the 35 seats on the PPP’s Central Committee. He won enough votes but was disqualified on the basis that he did not have full PPP membership of five years. He was short by just a few days. Ramjattan recalls that Bharrat Jagdeo, who had just returned from studies in Moscow, also contested a seat, and won. But he too was short on membership – by months – but he was allowed in. Jagdeo, Ramjattan recounted, had argued on his behalf, pointing out that if the credentials committee had accepted that Ramjattan contested the seat and if he secured the votes, then he should be let in. But it was not to be. The next in line to receive Ramjattan’s vote would have been his friend, Lionel Peters, the other top vote getter. But he was bypassed for someone else. Peters was one of those who supported Ramjattan in changing the constitution of the PYO. The Committee argued that it was not binding that they accept the next highest vote getter, but Ramjattan was furious because that was the principle from time immemorial. “It was one of the saddest moments in my life as a member of the PPP.” But there was nothing he could do. At the next triennial congress, Ramjattan won his seat on the PPP’s Central Committee. As the years went by, he continued to be tormented about the politics of the PPP and wanted change. Things came to head when he decided, with the backing of forward thinking persons in a Campbellville Group of the party, to propose the motion to change the party’s constitution, and get the Congress to elect presidential and prime ministerial candidates, and other leaders of the party. Ramjattan was told that his resolution would be supported by many in the party, even from President Jagdeo. But there was a complete somersault of positions. Mrs Jagan, who could not attend because of ill-health, sent a video accusing Ramjattan of wanting to break up the PPP, even though he insisted all he wanted was internal party democracy and to give the wider membership a greater say and to hold party leaders accountable. One by one, party leaders chastised Ramjattan, with two of them even calling him a “rat.” He says that when he asked for a secret vote on proceeding with his resolution, Ralph Ramkarran, who was chairing the proceedings declined, saying he preferred an open vote.

Emphasising a point during another forum with the people .

Ramjattan failed miserably at his efforts and that created tension with him and party leaders. But he continued, writing letters in the Stabroek News that were critical of the government. In 2004, Ramjattan was expelled from the PPP, after he was accused by President Jagdeo of leaking information to the US embassy and the media. The PPP explained that Ramjattan was expelled for showing disregard for party rules via a breach of a commitment he made at a February 6 meeting with Executive Committee to cease all public attacks on party leaders and the government; to use the internal party mechanism to air positions; and to abide with the constitution and rules of the party. Ramjattan tried to reverse his expulsion, but because of a number of demands he could not meet, including apologizing for things he did not do, he decided to give up. “I saw after my expulsion that the PPP wasn’t going to change its course and get attuned to the times.” NEW WAVE POLITICS Hence, the talks with Trotman and Holder began that would see the formation of the AFC. In the upcoming elections, Ramjattan is looking to galvanise support and is doing the groundwork – from market meetings to protesting about the refusal of the state broadcast network from airing advertisements of the party. “The people are seeing the AFC for what it is. We have done our work,” Ramjattan said. That work includes giving proper representation to supporters who have complaints, giving them legal representation, and taking on the big issues in the public domain. He boasts of the AFC being the only opposition parliamentarians to submit private members’ Bills in the National Assembly. He has tabled a Bill on Broadcast Legislation, while Trotman has tabled one on Freedom of Information. “We have integrity; we have exposed corruption and malfeasance by the government.” But more than that, Ramjattan says that on every policy, the AFC feels it can do better. One of the main pillars Ramjattan talks of is liberal democracy and good governance. According to the AFC, this idea is premised on defending and increasing civil liberties of the people and regulating government’s intervention in political, economic and social issues affecting the people. The vision is to ensure that every citizen has equitable access to the resources of the state and the national decision-making processes in keeping with Article 13 of the constitution. Ramjattan says the AFC intends to create a whole new economy that will stimulate rapid development through Guyana’s production transformation from a raw material producer to a manufacturer of value added goods and services. Regarding taxes, he says that if the AFC gets into government it will reduce all taxes, ensuring that workers take home more and businesses grow. Ramjattan explained part of the plan for economical transformation which includes establishing a national development bank to provide the capital so more persons could become entrepreneurs. On law and order, Ramjattan says the aim would be to professionalise the Police Force and to increase pay to law enforcement officers. He said, too, the AFC would step up the anti-narcotics fight by allowing the setting up of drug enforcement agencies by foreign governments who want to. Importantly, Ramjattan says the AFCs mission is also to promote harmony and reconciliation across race, ethnicity and gender. “If we do not solve that problem, everything else will collapse.”