THERE have been many commentaries and letters in the press who should be the next Presidential Candidate for the PPP/C in 2011. I want to identify Comrade Donald Ramotar as the most suitable and qualified person for that position since he has displayed all the good qualities and a keen listener to problems. At one time it had seemed that more comrades would enter the race but eventually only 5 candidates. Comrade Donald Ramotar, as I see it from the outside, will help the party’s support to increase by ten fold with a two-third majority at the election; rallying of the loyalist .
His victory will be mainly due to many factors – genuine impact of his record of achievements in party groups after the unexpected and untimely death of our liberation hero and founder leader, Dr Cheddi Jagan. It is evident that all the candidates are confident of winning the Presidency once the secret ballots are implemented. Never were there so much enthusiasm and great expectation among PPP members throughout Guyana. While this scenario is still emerging, it would appear that some hitherto prominent backers of comrades Rohee, Moses, Gail and Ralph Ramkarran have come around to a position, however reluctantly, that they should live with the outcome of the election and unite the party forever, “confrontation is not an option”, and that “we need to talk to each other.”
This does not mean that the party should not find ways of returning to the notion of uniting and bringing back those old stalwarts who helped fight for democracy. It must not be swept under the carpet, with the pretense that it does not exist. The strength of a national democracy resides with the people and their institutions, and it is our duty to harness this strength, while we lead at the top. We must build our strength from the bottom and, put people’s power at the top.