Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 03, 2014 News
There seems to be something more sinister about the “Jagdeo Third Term” saga, says Alliance for Change Parliamentarian, Moses Nagamootoo.
According to Nagamootoo the Ralph Ramkarran column from last Sunday really “hit the hammer on the nail”.
Ramkarran, a former PPP/C stalwart in his weekly blog, delivered a stark warning to Head of State, Donald Ramotar, suggesting that former President Bharrat Jagdeo is attempting to scheme his way back into power.
According to Nagamootoo, everyone saw how persons whom he refers to as the “gang of B’s” coined the campaign of “Bring Back Bharrat”. Nagamootoo told Kaieteur News that he strongly believes that the “gang” isn’t so “concerned” about a third term but something more sinister.
“The gang knows that the notion of a third term is a like kite that cannot fly. The tail is too heavy to make it fly” Nagamootoo said. He explained that the campaign is even more sinister and perhaps less noticeable by the general public and the PPP membership.
It could see Ramotar being forced to step down as President before the end of his term and Jagdeo being installed. Then he does not breach the constitutional provision which states that he cannot be re-elected.
According Nagamootoo, former President Bharrat Jagdeo has been a debilitating factor which was introduced into the PPP. He said that everyone has seen him operate by stealth trying to wield control.
“Because he had access to the Ministry of Finance and it’s a fairly influential position he was able to corral under his side people who could be easily compromised” Nagamootoo opined.
The idea in the PPP was described brilliantly by Dr. Joey Jagan who said that the “Gang of Eight” out of 15 members of the leadership, which is the executive committee, can control literally the party which is like the head.
According to Nagamootoo, the former president had worked his way among the group of trained leaders of the party, and moved the Gang of Eight to his side.
“I think that they are attempting to start a rift inside the party to be able to get Jagdeo to control the Gang of Eight, in which case they could ask President Ramotar to step aside for whatever reason as what has happened with Janet Jagan in 1999 and allow Jagdeo to act as president until fresh elections,” Nagamootoo posited.
Ramkarran first alluded to an article in the Guyana Times, which said that the Opposition had caused a poll to be conducted last month which found that “former President Bharrat Jagdeo would be the most formidable candidate that the Opposition parties…could face in any upcoming general elections.”
He noted that the following day, the state-owned Guyana Chronicle carried a similar front page headline: “Jagdeo favoured as PPP’s presidential candidate” in an Opposition poll. Both the Alliance for Change and A Partnership for National Unity have denied any such poll.
Ramkarran noted that the publications in the newspapers belie Jagdeo’s protestations that he is not interested in a third term.
“This new campaign was no doubt inspired by talk of a landslide victory if he had been the candidate in 2011, and if he is now the candidate.” Ramkarran recalled too that an expensive campaign calling for a third term was also put together in 2010 which only fizzled out when the then General Secretary, Donald Ramotar, took a stand against a third term.
According to Ramkarran, now that elections appear to be on the horizon, Jagdeo is “beginning to drool with renewed ambition and hunger for high office.” From the time he settled in to the Presidency and realized its potential to elevate him to ‘greatness’ and wealth (by saving), Jagdeo set in motion a two pronged strategy, Ramkarran says.
The former executive member of the party said that Jagdeo, while in office began to nurture and encourage a group of business people, many of whom expanded through opportunities available from state contracts and other linkages, into massive and still growing conglomerates.
According to Ramkarran, the party leadership certainly did not recognize that the ambitions of Jagdeo, who was soon to leave office, could not be contained. “The 2011 elections revealed the extent of the damage to the Party.”
The open campaign for a third term, the direct challenge to President Ramotar and his leadership and the attempt to deprive him of a second term, whether of a minority government or not, were nevertheless exposed by the two publications.
He posits that Jagdeo “can only succeed if he divides the Party, something he clearly has no qualms in doing.” Ramkarran says that he can make bold to raise this direct challenge because, although President Ramotar recognizes the need to curb his influence, he has taken no decisive action to do so.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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