–says PPP-C already has pool of heavyweights to choose from

LEADER of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo has announced that the executive committee of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will commence discussions on the selection of a presidential candidate for the party on Thursday.

“Because of the recently passed no-confidence motion,” he said, “we have to accelerate our process, but we are not scrambling to do it.

“We have a big pool and a lot of young people,” he told reporters during a press conference at his Church Street office on Monday, adding that the position will however be harder for a “newbie”.

Although the opposition leader did not fully rule out the option of choosing an inexperienced person, he said most of the people in the pool of potential candidates of which he spoke are used to leadership and have executive experience at the Cabinet level.
According to Jagdeo, the pool includes people who are within the age range of 30-50 years old.

“We have a fantastic pool to choose from,” he reiterated. “We will be considering people who expressed their interest, and there are also those who will express interest,” said the opposition leader, noting that their vision is that any candidate would bring the people together.

As the party prepares to discuss its options for presidential candidate, Jagdeo said there has been no discussion as yet as to who will be the prime ministerial candidate, but they intend on settling that matter closer to the elections season, which is expected to be in 2019.

Despite not making a decision on the two candidates, Jagdeo was certain that he will be part of the government, should his party win the elections.
“As the general secretary,” he said, “my job is to work hard to get them elected and ensure we deliver…

“I will have to ensure we deliver on our promises; I have to ensure that it happens…
“I have no interest in the things people believe, but I have to make sure we deliver, so I will be there as a counsel to deliver.”
He believes that anyone who is appointed as presidential candidate would be labelled his puppet, but it’s a reality he has come to accept.

Jagdeo had said before that the PPP/C would announce their candidate before the end of the year, but the recently concluded Local Government Elections (LGEs) and the budget debates would not permit the party to do so.

“I have been in favour of doing it pretty early,” he said. “The process, so far, is that you have a discussion at the level of the executive, and it goes to the central committee, which is made up of 35 members.

“And then at that level, it is agreed by consensus, or then we go to balloting,” said the opposition leader, adding that only the central committee of the party could change the process.