…Jagdeo says he was bored with presidency

IN a twist of events, former President Bharrat Jagdeo is now claiming that he had become bored of being president and that supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had begged for him to be the party’s presidential candidate for the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Declaring that he is getting down in age, Jagdeo at an “emergency” press conference told reporters that what he really wants to do is read books, work three days per week, rest for four days, and avoid time-wasting events such as cocktail receptions.

The opposition leader called the press conference at his Church Street Office hours after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) by a 6-1 majority upheld the constitutional amendments on term limits for presidential candidates in Guyana – effectively overturning the decisions of Guyana’s High Court and Court of Appeal.

Just before the 2015 General and Regional Elections, Cedric Richardson, a resident of Georgetown who remains a “mystery,” had challenged the amendments made to Article 90 that were enacted in 2000 following a bipartisan Constitutional Reform Process, and paved the way for a presidential term limit.

But the CCJ, in handing down the ruling, said Richardson was misguided in law. Many have drawn the conclusion that the constitutional challenge filed by Richardson was engineered by Jagdeo in an effort to secure a third term in office. On Tuesday, Jagdeo said he respects the decision of the CCJ, but stated that his base supporters are disappointed in the ruling.

“Whilst many in the PPP base would be disappointed, particularly those who have been pushing me, saying that you have to do it, I want to assure them…We will never put all the PPP eggs in one basket,” he said, while saying that the CCJ ruling comes as no surprise.
According to him, as President he had grown tired of the ceremonial process for the presentation of letters of credence from diplomats, and the many cocktail receptions he was asked to attend.

The opposition leader, who served two terms in office, said at an appropriate time the PPP will elect a presidential candidate that is vibrant, strong and courageous. Unlike the period under Donald Ramotar’s presidency (2011-2015), Jagdeo gave the assurance that if the PPP administration returns to office, he will assume a formal role.
Pressed for particulars on the “formal position” he hopes to assume, Jagdeo said he is not ready to give specifics, but that it would allow him to influence change without being trapped in having to work daily.

“I want something where I can work day and night for three days, and then have four days for myself. I am getting to that stage in my life where I want time for myself…I want time for myself because from 13 years old I have been part of the party, then for 20 odd years, I have been part of a Cabinet, and now I am leader of the opposition, and I do want time for myself,” Jagdeo said. According to him, he has piles of unread books that he would love to read.

Jagdeo maintained that when the time is right, he would disclose in detail what the “formal role” in a PPP government will be, but for now, he will settle for the opposition leader and general secretary posts within the party.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Ramotar, who served one term in office before the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government won the 2015 Regional and General Elections, said there is nothing to be disappointed about, as he alluded to the decision of the CCJ in the presidential term-limit case.

“The court has ruled. I would say that we (the PPP) have accepted the position of the court,” Ramotar told the Guyana Chronicle, while stating that the ruling comes as no surprise to him.
“I am not surprised. I always thought that the case would have gone either ways, because both sides had strong arguments,” he said.

Notwithstanding the ruling, the former President said the PPP remains in a “good position,” noting that the party has a corps of good leaders. Tuesday, when Jagdeo was questioned as to whether he would support Ramotar as the PPP’s presidential candidate, this time around, he declined to give a direct response, but reiterated that the party is looking for a candidate that is strong and courageous.

Ramotar told this newspaper that he has been a loyal member of the PPP, and if the party so decides to appoint him presidential candidate for the 2020 Elections, he would strongly consider the offer.