OF course, I do not know for a fact that Moses Nagamootoo (MN) will write a sequel to “Dear Land of Guyana,” but there is so much that the Guyanese people should know that it is a betrayal of facts to leave out significant portions that answer burning questions the Guyanese people want to know.
So, I am attempting to telegraph what his next memoir should contain.
MN started his book with events surrounding the last moments of his prime-ministerialship, then worked his way back through various events including aspects of the campaign. I wish to write off as a crass lie (undiplomatic language intended) the following words found on page 19 of the book.
“AFC replaced me as prime ministerial candidate in favour of the party’s leader, Khemraj Ramjattan … I was sidelined from the preparation and campaign plans for the 2020 elections; and except where local coalition committees requested my presence, I was invited to speak at only one pre-election rally. For me, I felt like a veteran soldier who had done battle in eleven previous elections, being decommissioned.”
During the 2015 campaign, I was responsible for logistics for the AFC side of the Campaign; along with that, I had the task of overseeing the schedule of the PM candidate. I handled everything including all campaign meetings, public meetings and public appearances.
For the 2020 elections, I played the same role for Khemraj Ramjattan (KR). During a campaign strategy meeting with KR, I convinced him that it would be beneficial to the campaign if MN shared main speaker’s role at some of the public meetings where he, Khemraj, would be speaking. Based on that assurance, I personally sent invitations for Moses to headline many meetings that KR would’ve otherwise headlined.
Moses wanted nothing to do with it. MN acted like the jealous boyfriend spurned by his love interest. He couldn’t countenance helping KR become PM. So, if anything, MN deliberately sidelined himself. It was an extremely selfish thing to do as payback for not being named PM candidate. The one rally mentioned in the book was before KR was definitively named PM candidate.
Why was Ramjattan chosen instead on MN is an area the book didn’t touch as if the writer was trying to avoid an Ebola plague. An apt title for that chapter would be lust, and this is the story it should tell.
During 2018 at an event at the PM residence, MN mentioned openly to a number of AFC activists, management committee members and in the presence of KR and his wife, that, as per personal promise coupled with the urging of his (MN’s) own family, given his recent cardiac scare, he will not venture into a second term.
He emphasised that the younger Ramjattan must now run with the baton. It is this same promise that led to the AFC naming MN as its “elder statesman” and passed a motion to allow the party elder to have a lifetime seat on the National Executive Committee.
Given such a situation, MN set in motion a runaway horse in the expectation of KR that could not be tamed, a thirst that did not need anyone to entice the horse to drink.
A thousand chains could not hold back Ramjattan, because he felt that he had given the PM spot to MN in 2015 without murmur or complaint, without a vote or contest.
In 2015 it was not a foregone conclusion that Moses will be Granger’s running mate. Ramjattan made it that way.
It was logical, MN still had fresh appeal to some of PPP hardline supporters; to many, he still had the scent of the Cheddi’s perfume; one of a dying breed of Jaganites. Ramjattan knew better not to try to swim against that tide, his time would come soon enough.
Somewhere along the line, MN had a change of heart.
The proper thing to do would be to go to the Management Committee and the NEC and make a pitch, make a strong case for his return.
Instead, MN chose to withdraw himself from Management Committee meetings. He completely stopped engaging the leadership of the AFC, instead he chose to tread the path of some political ignoramuses who believed that Ramjattan is “once a PPP and always a PPP” and therefore could not be trusted.
All kinds of backroom scheming ensued to attempt to dislodge KR. Given the true reasons why MN left the PPP, I am left to conclude that subterfuge is probably in his blood.
This position was bolstered by Granger’s politically fatal refusal to name a running mate for an extended period way into the campaign.
This stupid decision stemmed from politically daft advice given to Granger from overseas analysts, that he (Granger) is the sole personality that should be featured in the campaign, a palpable demonstration that despite serving as president and had all the state intelligence available to him he remained a political alec.
