FORMER Speaker of the National Assembly and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Executive, Attorney-at-Law Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, SC, has announced his retirement from politics, declaring he has no interest in joining any political party or serving in any post of whichever party emerges victorious at the May 11 polls.

Responding to numerous calls from several quarters in society suggesting that he should join the APNU+AFC alliance, Ramkarran has declared he is not part of any political party and is quite satisfied being an independent commentator.

Currently writing a weekly column, ‘Conversation Tree’, which is published in the Sunday edition of the Stabroek News and, at times, carried as news by both the print and electronic media, Ramkarran says he would continue with the column as long as he has the time and material to write about.

He told the Chronicle that since he severed relations with the PPP over differing views on corruption, which happened soon after the 2011 general and regional elections, he had never been called by anyone in the PPP, AFC or APNU to serve in any capacity.

He emphasised that he had not expected a call from any of those parties, and pointed out that when he left the PPP, his professional focus shifted solely on his private law practice, and more on his family.

The former House Speaker said both the PPP and the APNU+AFC alliance have seasoned professionals in their ranks, and it would be ideal for them to utilise those persons.

TRIMMING THE WORK LOAD
Mr Ramkarran also pointed out that, in the next three years, he would be cutting his workload as an attorney. By then he would have attained the age of 70, and it would allow the elderly statesman, who enjoys the respect of senior functionaries of both the Government and Opposition, to quietly retire from the practice of law.

Ramkarran’s disclosure has effectively put to rest any speculation that he might be a candidate for the post of Speaker, in light of talks that the position should be given to a member of civil society.

BORING JOB
Speaking briefly about his tenure as Speaker, Mr. Ramkarran said that for the time he served, the job was “boring”, and it probably is among the “most boring (jobs) in existence” in Guyana.

The administration of Parliament, he said, is managed by the Clerk of the National Assembly, and thus the post of Speaker is not burdensome, as the Speaker presides over the affairs of the House. But, he said, he did find at least one thing burdensome, and that was having to listen to boring presentations, made consecutively on many occasions, with little substance to the issues being debated.

Mr. Ramkarran says that, at his age, he would not want to again go through the torture of listening to boring presentations in the House. He made clear that he is comfortable, and is enjoying his retirement from party politics.

ABOUT RALPH RAMKARRAN
Mr Ralph Ramkarran became qualified as a lawyer in 1972 in the United Kingdom, as a member of Gray’s Inn, and returned to Guyana the following year, when he entered private practice.

Upon his return to Guyana, Ramkarran became deeply involved in political activities; and, as the only lawyer in the PPP leadership at that time, he became involved in the defence of dozens of youths, who were mainly from the sugar estate communities and were PPP activists who were consistently charged and placed before the courts on public disorder charges as a form of continuous harassment.

The highlight of Ramkarran’s activities during that period was his role in the defence of Arnold Rampersaud, who had been framed on a murder charge and had been tried three times — in 1976, 1977 and 1978. Rampersaud was eventually acquitted after international interest and condemnation had been brought to bear on the case.

Ramkarran joined the law firm of Cameron & Shepherd — Guyana’s oldest and largest — in 1977, and is now its senior partner. He became a Senior Counsel in 1996, the West Indian Encyclopedia stated.

He became an elected member of the National Assembly in 1997, and resigned in early 2001 to become a member of the Guyana Elections Commission, to assist in managing the elections of that year.

According to the West Indies Encyclopedia, Ramkarran had previously served on the Guyana Elections Commission for the 1973, 1992 and 1997 General Elections and the 1994 Local Government Elections.

Mr. Ralph Ramkarran was elected unopposed as Speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana in 2001, and again in 2006.

By Tajeram Mohabir