Ramjattan has the influence to be outspoken and still make a difference

Dear Editor,
Many years ago, a former President of Guyana once warned me about my mistake in supporting Mr. Khemraj (Prakash) Ramjattan on his internal PPP crusade against police corruption and police killings and the lack of foresight in not supporting Mr. Laurie Lewis as the Commissioner.  I was told by this former President that “I have choice; I could be an insider or an outsider”.
In his words, an outsider can say what he wants, but PPP insiders do not listen.
According to that President, “Insiders have access to the corridors of power and can use this access to increase their political, economic and social status in society.”
But according to this former President “insiders have to follow one rule – do not criticize fellow insiders”.  I was immediately offered a job as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works to which I politely declined and took up an offer inside the United Nations system, thanks to the wise counsel of some people very close to me.
I use this story to highlight what a political gem, Mr. Ramjattan is to Guyana since he could have been anything he wanted in the PPP Government but he choose politics of principle over politics of convenience.
But what these PPP “CHAT-TREE CHAMMARS” do not realize, is that in this world there are people who march to a higher ideal and do not measure success by the size of their bank account and I know Mr. Ramjattan is one of those.
I am proud of the fact, irrespective of how much the unrighteous forces in the PPP tried to bribe and threaten him into silence, he remains outspoken and if anything has become one of the leading influencer in Guyanese politics.  As scandal after scandal destroys the ability of the PPP “CHAT-TREE CHAMMARS” to influence the society, it is people like Khemraj Ramjattan, Nigel Hughes and Moses Nagamootoo who are taking their place in this political evolution.
Since 2011, Mr. Ramjattan has not stopped throwing evidential bombs at the PPP “CHAT-TREE CHAMMARS”, causing much trouble for Freedom House.  But what is even more important, is his role in ensuring that the unrighteous forces in the PPP are replaced by a righteous alliance of the Guyanese people.
This being said, at the AFC Conference Mr. Ramjattan stated that the “AFC is prepared to lead a pro-democracy alliance of progressive forces” inclusive of APNU and disaffected PPP members, civic groups, union leaders and other political forces.  This is a timely call since the Guyanese people have lost faith in the old political order represented by the PNC and the PPP who have collectively wrecked the nation since we earned independence.
What Mr. Ramjattan has done with his call is to offer the Guyanese people an alternative with credible citizens of quality who can lead the process of giving a voice to the working families, the poor, the legitimate business community and the underprivileged.  What Mr. Ramjattan has made clear is that he and his team are ready to take on the unrighteous political elite, who continue to dominate Guyanese politics with their ideologically bankrupt political strategies driven mainly by pure racism and fear over the last 50 years.
From the feedback I have received from Guyana, the influence of Mr. Ramjattan and other Guyana-based like-minded politicians, has grown leaps and bounds since 2011, since the people have finally has a chance to test out a minority Government and the results are astonishing.
For the first time the people can see how corrupt the PPP really is as they squander billions and billions of dollars on themselves and their close business associates.
From the feedback I have received, more and more people want to see the back of the PPP but they do not want more of the last 50 years.  They want a credible alternative – exactly what Mr. Ramjattan is preaching.
So Guyana is at a cross road again, just like we were in 1992 when many Afro-Guyanese broke ranks with the PNC and voted for Dr. Jagan to correct a historical injustice. Will 2015 present the opportunity for a coming together of our people, to ensure that real change is achieved this time with a commitment to write a new Constitution within one year after elections that will be voted on in a national referendum?
Sase Singh