OF recent there have been a lot of speculations in the print media about who the PPP/C presidential candidate will be. A lot of names are coming up but the question is – whom do we select? Discussions on proposed candidates in the dailies have stirred much argument over the past. The PPP/C General-Secretary Comrade, Donald Ramotar, who is the head of the party has been holding the party together despite differences among senior party comrades. Comrade Ramotar served the party as General- Secretary from 1997 to present. He has many ideas and experiences in the political, economical and social spheres and is able to enter international negotiations with world leaders. Comrade Ramotar studied Economics at the University of Guyana and was a member of the editorial board of the World Marxist Review in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
During the period 2001 to 2006, when the Opposition forces were attacking the party and government it was Cde. Donald Ramotar, Dr Roger Luncheon and President Bharrat Jagdeo who stood up and defended the party and government policies as well as the working class. Comrade Ramotar, who serves on the Guysuco Board as a director has made significant representation for the sugar workers at various levels over the years and still continues to do so in close collaboration with GAWU. There have been suggestions that outgoing President Bharrat Jagdeo is supporting Comrade Ramotar. If this is so it is highly commendable and visionary because His Excellency has seen much potential in Cde. Ramotar.
Cde. Ramotar has made significant strides and gains in the sugar and rice industries working with the
grassroot people and this is what matters the most. How many of the senior party comrades with the exception of Comrade Ramotar and Comrade Harripersaud Nokta have ever gone to Black Bush Polder, Crabwood Creek, Charity, Rupununi Savannahs, Orealla, among other places to meet with grassroot supporters and party comrades? Just a few party groups meeting across the country are being held monthly and many senior Central Committee members find it very inconvenient to attend out of town group meetings which would boost comrades’ support, provide encouragement and motivation.
In the “West on trial” Dr. Jagan made it very clear that it is the foundation that you set down that will take you to victory. We have entered 2011 and elections are due by August and by now all party comrades have a clear picture as to where we are heading. I hope that the Executive Committee and the Central Committee make the right selection whether by secret ballot or by the showing of hands and elect Donald Ramotar as the PPP presidential candidate.
Let’s rally around Donald Ramotar for a next PPP victory at the polls.