“I WILL be part of the race. I am supporting the People’s Progressive Party. I will put every bit of energy and strength that I have in my body to make sure that (Donald) Ramotar remains the President of our country, and Elisabeth Harper becomes the Prime Minister.” 

This was the contention of former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, at his last public appearance, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Kitty Rally.
And he made good on his promise by acceding to requests of his Party and supporters to be on the PPP/C’s list of candidates, which was submitted to Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Mr Keith Lowenfield yesterday.
He however insists that he is not in favour of a return to the National Assembly.
“I maintain my position that I will not go into Parliament. I did not want to go on the list, but the Party and many of our supporters encouraged me to have my name on the list, because the thinking was that me not being on the list sent a signal that I was in some way distancing myself from the Party. I thought that this was important so I acceded to their request,” he told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday in an interview.
Prior to agreeing to the insistence of his Party and PPP/C supporters, the former president had indicated that his name will not be on the list of candidates.
“I will not be on the list… I have no intention of going into Parliament,” he had said, adding that he had not been included on the 2011 list.
“It was not my original decision to be on the list of candidates, but Party and membership convinced me to be part of the list of candidates,” Dr Jagdeo said.
Speculations have been rife regarding the future role Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo in managing the affairs of this nation, but his position remains an emphatic ‘no’ when it comes to resumption of public office in a political capacity.
Incumbent President Donald Ramotar recently announced that his predecessor, a former Finance Minister, had been appointed Chairman of the impending National Economic Council; and Dr. Jagdeo made it clear yesterday that he would serve in that capacity because he believes he has “some skills” he could leverage to support the new Government.
Dr Jagdeo yesterday made it clear that his position on holding a constitutional office has not changed.
“I remain fully engaged in the struggle of the PPP and I will support the party,” Dr Jagdeo emphasised. (Vanessa Narine)