–PPP supporters hammer alleged handpicking of Ali as presidential candidate

GRASSROOT supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) are outraged over the election of Irfaan Ali as the party’s presidential candidate. They are now calling on the ex-government minister to step down, contending that his ‘baggage’ will ‘sink’ the party’s chances of winning the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

Moments after it was confirmed that Ali was elected PPP presidential candidate over former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, supporters expressed profound disappointment as they flooded the Internet to register their concerns.

On popular social media platform, Naresh Singh, a known supporter of the PPP, said he no longer has faith in Guyanese politics. “Can you imagine Irfaan Ali being PPP presidential candidate??? Like damn!!! Seriously!!!” Those were the immediate thoughts of Singh as he made a bold call for Ali to step down in an effort to increase PPP’s chances of winning the elections.

In response to the Facebook post made by Singh, Jaipaul Persaud said: “Do you see what I see? This is the end of the PPP/C. I am in a state of shock. I never voted in Guyana but I feel sorry for the PPP/C supporters.”

Celrose Caravaio, a relative of the former Minister of Local Government under the PPP regime Norman Whittaker, questioned why Ali was elected over former Culture and Sport Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony and other candidates who have cleaner slates.
A BOMB

“So many of us PPP/C supporters were feeling a sense of optimism at an early election, even none supporters who were willing to support us. But now you drop this Bomb! Irfaan Ali??? Seriously??? The bad outweighs the good when it comes to this individual and to use your supporters desperation for a change from the government by making Irfaan their alternative choice is just sick to me!” she wrote.

Caravaio is demanding that the central committee of the PPP tells its supporters why Ali was elected over the other four candidates, mainly Dr. Anthony. “I am thoroughly disappointed in this decision by the PPP/C and I am sure I’m not the only one,” she said while calling on the party’s executive to listen to the cries of the people.

Another supporter Henry Singh said “It’s sacrilegious to have Irfaan Ali in any form of leadership position,” as he described the presidential candidate as “unqualified, immoral and venal”.

It is Singh’s belief that Ali should have withdrawn from the inception because of the baggage he carries, and gave Nandlall a chance. “Irfaan will be the delight of the coalition. PPP is risking too many defections and the abstaining with Irfaan. But (Bharrat) Jagdeo’s importance, ubiquity and relevance depend on Irfaan. The two have a catamaitish attachment,” Singh contended.

NANDLALL IS BETTER
Like Singh, Simone Lochan said it was Nandlall who should have been elected to contest the elections on the PPP’s behalf. “Anil Nandlall would have been the better choice, he’s actually qualified and when he became a MP, he came as a successful lawyer. He didn’t have any get rich quick plans like this larger unit did when he was minister of housing. Wrong move PPP, I had such high hopes now they are all dashed…,” Lochan wrote in a Facebook post.

Another supporter contended that grassroot PPP supporters will not vote for Ali because he had insulted many Guyanese when he was minister of housing. For Alexei Ramotar, son of former President Donald Ramotar, Ali’s selection was just a stupid move. On his Facebook page, he wrote “the PPP really stchupidy” in other words, ‘the PPP really stupid.”
Ali, who served as a former Minister of Housing, Water and Tourism under the PPP/C administration, was elected by the majority of the 35-member committee by way of secret ballot.

ACCUSATIONS
His election comes at a time when he is being accused of academic fraud. It is alleged that he used a fake transcript to pursue a master’s degree programme at an Indian university. But this is just the tip of the iceberg – Ali has been accused of defrauding the State of some $174M for his role in the notorious Pradoville land-sale scandal. The case is before the court.

The ex-minister was slapped with 19 counts of fraud last November and the charges laid were indictable. The charges read that between 2010 and 2015, Ali conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government of Guyana when he acted recklessly in presenting the value of 19 plots of State land situated at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, and sold the said lands at a grossly undervalued price without first obtaining a valuation to determine their true value.

Initially, Ali vied for the post along Nandlall, Dr Anthony, Dr Vindhya Persaud, and Gail Teixeira but just before the elections, Dr. Anthony, Dr. Persaud and Teixeira withdrew from the contest leaving Nandlall and Ali as the two contestants.

Ali received 24 votes and Nandlall received 11 votes. The 38-year-old Ali has been a member of the PPP for over 20 years and a part of the leadership for 15 years, where he held the position of finance secretary for several years. He served in the Cabinet for seven years. While he may have served the PPP with ‘distinction,’ supporters have long questioned his leadership skills due to his mismanagement of the housing sector.