Dr Ramsammy: Elisabeth Harper is an excellent Prime Ministerial candidate

AGRICULTURE Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy says he is excited that the PPP/C has chosen Ms. Elisabeth Harper as its Prime Ministerial Candidate. The following is the full text of a letter he sent the media on the subject: “The PPP/C has selected an excellent candidate and Ms. Harper will find a very supportive environment in the PPP/C and among its supporters. The PPP/C has never been afraid to bring out new candidates and every election we see new people on the PPP/C Candidate List.

“She is only the first new person revealed for the 2015 List. Many more will be put forward as the campaign takes off. In selecting Ms. Harper, the PPP/C demonstrates the significant role women have played in the PPP/C and the continued determination of the PPP/C to create the space for women empowerment.
“As a Minister in the PPP/C Government, I believe that this is another proud moment for the PPP/C. The PPP/C previously was bold in electing a woman to be its Presidential Candidate and she became our President. President Janet Jagan served also as Prime Minister before her election as President.
“Given my confidence that the PPP/C will win the 2015 elections, we can be assured that Ms. Harper will be Guyana’s next Prime Minister. The PPP/C would have ensured that once again a woman occupies this important role in Guyana.
“Ms. Harper is a distinguished Guyanese. She has achieved much in her professional career. Ms. Harper is highly regarded as Guyana’s Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her eligibility as our Prime Minister is beyond question.
“I noticed that Mr. Nagamootoo has expressed criticism on the nomination of Ms. Harper as the PPP/C Prime Minister Candidate. It would have been more appropriate for Mr. Nagamootoo to congratulate Ms. Harper as the Prime Minister Candidate.
“Given our commitment as a country to ensure women play prominent roles in Guyana’s development and the global campaign for women to have equal chances to play leading roles in national development, the ascendency of Ms. Harper to the Prime Ministerial candidacy should be something all Guyana applaud. This does not mean everyone will support Ms. Harper and the PPP/C. But at least we should celebrate the fact that such possibilities exist in our country.
“The fact that Mr. Nagamootoo’s first inclination is to be critical is very compelling evidence of a politician who has no moral compass. He might hate the PPP/C; it is his prerogative, justified or not. But as one who seeks such a high post and to be a leader in Guyana, he should have the decency to see that one of our sisters has attained such a high place in our society. He may not like the PPP/C, but he should have the decency to acknowledge that she has achieved a distinction that few women in history around the world have attained.
“When the WPA announced Ms. Sheila Holder as the PM candidate, I congratulated her, even though I made it clear that I could not support the WPA. But I expect little else from a bitter politician.
“I know that Mr. Nagamootoo would find something to diminish the importance of this nomination. But the fact is that the PPP/C’s Presidential candidate is superior in every way to Mr. Nagamootoo’s Presidential colleague, Mr. Granger.
“Ms. Harper is a much more dignified candidate with integrity than Mr. Nagamootoo, by far. Mr. Nagamootoo will find that this candidate would enjoy more support than he could ever imagine.”

DR. LESLIE RAMSAMMY

 

 

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