…says he will choose new Cabinet in a couple days
GUYANESE have spoken in the 2011 polls and Donald Ramotar is now the country’s president-elect.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has secured 32 seats compared to 36 in the 2006 victory, in the National Assembly, which makes it a minority government.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) won 26 seats and the Alliance For Change (AFC) secured 7, an increase over the 5 seats held in the Ninth Parliament of Guyana.
The general consensus among PPP/C members is that Guyana must move forward and all stakeholders will be included in moving Guyana towards the realisation of its true potential, which translates to improved livelihood for all Guyanese.

DONALD RAMOTAR:
Guyana’s newly elected president, Donald Ramotar, hours after the announcement of his victory, stressed that nation building must continue, adding that a new Cabinet will be chosen as soon as possible.

“I hope to do this very quickly, in a matter of a couple days,” he told the Guyana Chronicle in an invited comment.

According to him, the PPP/C welcomes the opportunity to work with the opposition and other stakeholders, who have constructive contributions toward nation building.

Ramotar said, “I have said that, and I meant it.”

Ramotar made it clear that Guyana must keep moving forward, expressing appreciation for the massive support from the Guyanese people.

SAMUEL HINDS:
The newly elected and long serving Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told the Chronicle the PPP/C will continue to advance towards a better Guyana.

“We would certainly want the work of the nation going as quickly as possible, and we want to assure the Guyanese people that we of the PPP/C have had, and always will have, the well-being of our people foremost,” he said.

Hinds added that having a minority government may be a good thing for Guyana.

“It is a minority government, we only have 32 out of 65 seats…many pundits have said that maybe this would be a good thing for Guyana,” he said.

Hinds stated that a majority win was the desire of the PPP/C, but noted that even with the reduction of seats in the National Assembly, the party’s members will work as best they can to serve the Guyanese people.

“We accept the choice of the public, the electorate, and respect their words; and we will do our best…we are hopeful for the best,” Hinds said.

RALPH RAMKARRAN
PPP/C Executive Member, Ralph Ramkarran, told the Guyana Chronicle that he expects the party to be engaged in talks with the now main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) in the interest of moving Guyana forward.

Speaking of his experience as former Speaker of the National Assembly, he explained that PPP/C has different choices – they can either form a minority government, or they can form an alliance with one of the other major parties to gain the majority in the National Assembly.

Ramkarran opined that an alliance can also be formed by all three of the major parties to govern Guyana.

Addressing the issue of a hung parliament, he explained that this means the majority of the votes stand with the Opposition, which in turn means that each legislation brought to the National Assembly will have to be negotiated extensively among the parties before it can be passed.

“These legislations include the national budget, which must be brought to the Assembly before the end of April 2012,” Ramkarran said.

LESLIE RAMSAMMY
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in an invited comment, said, “We won the elections; the people have had their say. We have worked for decades to build our democracy of freedom. The PPP/C has worked persistently and consistently to nurture a democracy that is seen today”.

He noted that what was seen in the election results was a reflection of real democracy.

“Now we have a new dimension to this democracy…the government that will be in Parliament does not have the majority, and this can further strengthen the democracy, as we learn to deal with it; and over the next few months we will learn from it,” Ramsammy added.

He maintained that the government of the day must work with stakeholders to govern Guyana in a manner that is beneficial to all of the Guyanese people.
“I would hope that everyone would accept this result, so that we could continue with the work that the people have given to us and so that we could continue to develop our country…I am very proud to be a Guyanese today…everyone must work together to continue with the work that we have to do.”

Ramsammy also extended congratulations to the president-elect, as well as APNU and the AFC for their successes in the elections.

ROBERT PERSAUD
PPP/C Executive Member Robert Persaud said that while the party is happy with the victory with the Presidency, the fact that Guyana now has a minority government is something to be looked at.

“Certainly we are happy about this, but we will have to look at the issue with the parliamentary majority,” Persaud said.

He stated that the continued progress of Guyana and the Guyanese people are the priorities of the PPP/C.

NORMAN WHITTAKER
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle in a telephone interview, PPP/C member Norman Whittaker said he is pleased that the party has secured the presidency.

He expressed some disappointment at the fact that the party has not been given the majority seats in parliament, but added that this new dimension is something that the political parties will have to deal with appropriately, bearing in mind the interest of the citizens.

“Of course I am disappointed that we have not attained the majority seats in parliament; but it’s something we have to work with, and we will find ways and means of working with the opposition,” Whittaker said.

He added that judging from the AFC’s and APNU’s manifesto, there is some amount of commonalities with regard to social and economic development of the country and, as such, emphasis should be placed on ensuring the country sees continued progress.

Whittaker said, “The parties should work together to bring about continued development; we have to work together to realise the programmes that will be put in place to give the people what they need.”

According to him, during the PPP/C’s 19 years in government, they have always been working towards the country’s development.