(Guyana Chronicle)SINCE his departure from active politics and the ranks of the leadership of the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Mr. Ralph Ramkarran has done his utmost to remain relevant; and according to the PPP, historical recall has become his forte.

In a statement issued yesterday, the party noted that the history of politics is replete with the hindsighted, and Guyana is no different. “Our historical landscape is strewn with their political carcasses. Their evolution is standard: A career of longstanding service and commitment, terminally interrupted by a failure to achieve some end,” it stated.
The PPP pointed out that, having departed, such individuals turn their attacks on their former comrades; and Ramkarran is proving to follow this time-tested trajectory.
However, the party statement said, unlike many others, in his exercise, Ramkarran makes no pretense about clearing his name, justifying his role, or easing his conscience. According to the PPP, his is classified warfare, always with the threat of more to come, which is all “pretense”.
The statement noted that, in 1997, after unacceptable revelations, Ramkarran was not selected as the party’s presidential candidate. But subsequently, the party recognized and spoke appreciatively of his fortitude in returning to active leadership after that personal reversal.
It added that he also played a significant role in the constitution reform exercise, (1999-2001).In addition, it stated that, as the Speaker of the 8th and 9th Parliament, Ramkarran moderated a workable level of tension between the legislature and the PPP/C Administration.
However, the PPP claims that, from 2006 to 2011, as Speaker, Ramkarran’s ambitions resurfaced and were clearly enunciated. “He was again aspiring to be the next President of Guyana, and publicly strove to show that he was unique and different from other PPP members…of the PPP/C Administration and the PPP leadership,” the statement said.
The statement continued that Ramkarran’s bid for the PPP presidential candidacy was again lost in February 2011. According to the release, he, like the other candidates, had to make presentations and defend his bid for the post before his leadership peers. His presentation did not reveal knowledge or concern about levels of corruption that he now discloses; and, in fact, corruption of government and party officials was not featured in the issues he was going to address were he to be elected as the President.
The PPP noted that Ramkarran’s latest disappointment came in January 2012 when, having tried so hard for so many years to be the “independent” Speaker and no “lackey of the government,” he revelled in the laudatory declarations of the PNC and AFC, at the end of the 9th Parliament, regarding his outstanding stewardship at the helm of the National Assembly.
However, after the November 28, 2011 elections, Parliamentary opposition parties opposed efforts of President Donald Ramotar to have him re-elected as Speaker; and in fact voted down his nomination as Speaker at the very first sitting of the 10th Parliament.
“Again, the PPP and the PPP/C administration stood by him and exposed the opportunism of the opposition parties. The PPP leadership did not waiver in its support for him,” the statement said. However, his departure was inexplicable as it was sudden.
“One day, at an Executive meeting, feigning great intolerance, he walked out and resigned. His resignation was re-affirmed as efforts by party leaders to reverse the outcome were rudely rebuffed. Mr. Ramkarran has now discovered that he has so much to share about his experiences and knowledge about the PPP and Government,” the PPP said.
It further stated that, not unexpectedly, Ramkarran portrays himself as a wronged person in order to justify his efforts at leaking dreadful secrets of his political past; but, unfortunately, Ramkarran has become his own worst enemy.
The PPP said that since his veneer has been lifted, it is certain that Ramkarran would use the ample time he has on his hands to regale Guyana with some more high points of his long association with the party, and the party anticipates more of his recent disclosures with interest.
“His profound vitriol against leaders of the PPP makes one wonder why this was not exposed when he was one such leader and contesting for the presidency in 2011. Why was this aspect of his moral position not revealed during his bid for the presidential candidacy? In fact, why would one want to be a presidential candidate for a party he has now described in such disparaging terms, and accused of such dastardly acts?” the PPP questioned.According to the PPP statement, one can draw no other conclusion as to whether the party would have had to wait at least another five years of silence had he won the party’s 2011 presidential candidate nomination, and possibly the presidency, for the disclosures he is now making.