[www.inewsguyana.com] – Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran says that any criticisms of the new government must be put on hold until after its 100 day honeymoon is over.
“The important issue for the Government during its honeymoon is the hundred-day programme. It must be restored to the forefront by placing it on the agenda of every Cabinet meeting.”
Ramkarran made the comment in his weekly blog, where he underscored the importance for the APNU +AFC to fulfill that plan, where it promised the liberalization of the telecommunications sector, wage increases, passage of several bills and a host of other commitments.
He recommended that Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo be tasked with managing the fulfillment of the 100-day plan. It is apposite to note that the new administration has already passed several legislations in the National Assembly, including the Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill and the amendment to the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill, which slashes a number of benefits for former presidents.
See Ramkarran’s full blog below.
It is only fair that the traditional honeymoon period of three months of the new APNU+AFC administration be exhausted before its performance is assessed. The Government has a plan against which a judgment will be made. It is called the hundred-day programme. Little is heard of it nowadays but we, the people, who are intended to be its beneficiaries, are looking forward anxiously to its fulfillment.
The public is not familiar with the inner workings of Governments and we acknowledge that urgent events are demanding attention. Last week it was the heavy rains and flooding which required top priority – a 4 am Cabinet meeting. It is not known if all Ministers were able to make it. During the time of the previous government, attendance would not have posed a problem. Much of the Cabinet would have been making their way home at that time. All that would have been required was a diversion to State House, which is just a drink away from Palm Court.
The week before it was the rice situation. It was mistakenly believed that the Venezuelans had unilaterally, suddenly and without notice, cancelled the contract. This information was not correct but the Government was justified in its conclusion, even from the flimsiest evidence. After all, the Venezuelans, on flimsier evidence, have unilaterally, suddenly and without notice claimed Guyana’s entire Atlantic front, having already claimed Essequibo. That’s what Venezuelan Governments do and how they act. Therefore, the Government was justified in its suspicion. The Government accused the PPP of colluding with the Venezuelans by knowing of and concealing their dastardly, but non-existent, design. What else could be expected of the PPP?
Dominating the honeymoon news has been the sending of officials on leave and recovering of State assets. The President’s son, Alexei Ramotar and Leslie Cadogan, Permanent Secretary, have been the latest victims. There is also the troubling question of that company which unauthorizedly took gasoline ($200,000 worth?) from Guyoil but had surreptitiously changed its address to avoid payment. There is so much information of Government chasing after the PPP that there is no room left for real news, such as progress on the hundred-day programme. Presumably, there is no end to PPP wickedness.
The de facto Opposition (not yet official) is ignoring the honeymoon. Its major focus, believe it or not, is Government’s alleged unlawful spending activities? It accused Government officials of attending the recent APNU+AFC New York celebrations at Government expense. But the de facto Opposition might have expended its energy more productively on mourning the loss of support of its hitherto loyal Consul General, Brentnol Evans, who up to the day before the elections, was a strong supporter of the PPP. Seeing the light at last after two decades plus of darkness, he attended the New York APNU+AFC rally in full regalia – from hat to shoes, including jacket, shirt, trousers and tie, in material of loud yellow and green, and was on stage! Word is that he has stored away his kurta. It is not true that in the past he had and wore a dhoti.
Then President Granger was sourly accused of using State funds to celebrate his birthday. Even if it were true, give the President a break! At least we have a President who does not scowl and abuse his opponents. And we are only now becoming accustomed again, since 2011 and First Lady Deolatchmie, to having a First Lady after years of drought during part of the Jagdeo Presidency when the delightful First Lady Varshnie announced, to much popular support, that she couldn’t stand her ‘husband’ anymore. And what a great birthday photograph of President David and First Lady Sandra! Maintaining the sourness, with tongue in cheek, the following day the de facto Opposition accused the Government of causing the flood, a phenomenon caused by heavy rains, an Act of God, combined with past neglect.
The important issue for the Government during its honeymoon is the hundred-day programme. It must be restored to the forefront by placing it on the agenda of every Cabinet meeting. I recently wrote about the Cummingsburg Accord. What I said attracted public comment, including one by the Minister Harmon accusing ‘opponents’ of the Government (presumably me and other contributors to the discussion) of trying to sow discord. During the height of the alleged discord, Prime Minister Nagamootoo applied a healing balm. He revealed that at one Cabinet Meeting the President chaired part and he chaired another part. He said nothing about his management of domestic affairs.
I would therefore recommend that the Prime Minister be placed in charge of managing the fulfillment of the hundred-day programme and that the Prime Minister chairs that portion of Cabinet meetings. Therefore, at one and the same time he would be chairing at least part of the Cabinet meetings and be responsible for at least part of the domestic agenda. The Prime Minister would then be able to deny that the AFC had (fully) capitulated on the Cummingsburg Accord and claim that it is being implemented with the adjustments necessary to make it workable in circumstances of holding office. Who knows, the supporters of the AFC might be convinced, while the PNCR would smile knowingly.
I sure he was more honest than them crooks that was running the country before
Carl, what’s the matter with you? Did Ramkarran fool you or are you trying to fool somebody? How honest is Ramkarran about his reasons for leaving the PPP/C? Didn’t you read Ramkarran’s many articles in the press before the selection of the PPP/C ‘s PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE for the 2011 elections? How he spoke in glowing terms about his party and his commitment to the party’s cause? Was he suddenly converted , like Saul on the road to Damascus ,after Ramotar was selected as the PPP/C’s PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE? Didn’t you notice that since then Ramkarran is a bitter man wasting his time and writing a lot of thrash on a regular basis ?
What 100 day plan are we talking about?remember the first thing they say after taking office ?there is no money in the pot,they already made it clear to all that the plan cant be executed because they are broke,they have no clue about running a country but they want to govern,what a sad state we are in today,look out for more news about recession ,all the rich people are running to america with their children,even Glen Lall dont want to come back home.
Where was he critical? I failed to see any criticism in this document. If anything, the comments he has made were quite contructive, and if objective, the were done the same.
Mr Joey at least he was honest enough to quit when he saw the PPP not doing the right thing. When the PNC was in power doing injustice how many of them quit. Be fair.
MR RAMKARRAN WOULD HAVE MADE A GREAT ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT
I fully agree. At least here is someone with some semblance of commonsense.
I find Mr. Ramkarran’s advice to the new government quite objective, timely and I believe absolutely necessary.
At the end of the day, the David Granger government must be held accountable for its performance as per election promises, including the fulfillment of those it said will be accomplished during its first 100 days in office.
Yes there have been “several circumstances” that necessitated urgent intervention. However, periodic interruptions should not and cannot be allowed to distract the government from following the implementation of its strategic plan. It is the sustained focus on implementing it’s strategic plan that will enable it to turn Guyana around. So yes, it must deal with the highly publicized crimes and criminals; however, it must also focus on its medium to long term plans to overhaul the overall judicial system, significantly reduce lawlessness especially at the leadership level of the country, lay the foundation to transform society by radically transforming the education system etc. The way towards doing this is by honouring it’s first 100 days in office promises.
So yes, Mr. Ramkarran’s recommendations to place the honourable Prime Minister in charge of ensuring this is done is very sound advice.
Guyanese must move away from petty behaviours and personality attacks. You do not need to like an individual to receive and give them credit for excellent counsel. The ability to do so is part of the hallmark of a great leaders.
I am personally grateful that Mr. Ramkarran chose to be positive in his writings.
He has much wisdom and can, like Christopher Ram and others be of great benefit to the leadership of the country.
Even ill intended criticisms can be turned into positive outcomes if looked at rationally and dealt with objectively.
In Mr. Ramkarran’s case, I only read well intended counsel being offered.
President Granger should give serious consideration to Ramkarran’s recommendations and move quickly to implement same.
Sincerely
Who get time for Ramkarran and he chupitness ? Everybady know that the plan was just a promise , just to sound better than the PPP/C . And even if the Coalition didn’ fulfill one pramise deh still wouldn’t lose even one vote just because the plan wasn’t fulfilled .
The Honorable Ralph Ramkarran need to quit writing these columns because the more he writes the more he rambles making little or no sense in his writings. No doubt in his hay days he was an astute politician and attorney but it is obvious his hay days are over. Too often his writings are contradictory, lacks objectivity and sounds more and more like an angry disgruntled individual. As s matter of fact I find him to be hypocritical and dishonest because he claimed to have been such a staunch PPP member just like Nagamotoo and both of them turned out not to be. If you are so concerned about the future of Guyana and the people get involve in doing some community work mentoring the young politicians regardless whether they are from the PPP or APNU camp – stop hiding behind these blogs and embarrassing yourself. If you cannot contribute in a positive way stay home in your rocking chair and enjoy your retirement with your facility.
Mr Rankarram, I really enjoy reading your article it is fair and it makes a lot of valid points. The PPP will always go into their bag of tricks to make the present government look bad, however the fact is they were in office for 23 years which left the country in a terrible state which the present government is cleaning up, Since they have loss the election, the Guyanese people have much more knowledge of all the misdoings and how much was wrong with the PPP. I for one was not paying much attention to the terrible situation in Guyana even though I have families there. I listen to them complaining how bad things were and try to help. The PPP will continue to talk about witch hunting the facts are they allow the country to be run into the ground in the way they put their friends and families above all to make them wealthy, and give jobs to folks who has no qualification to do their job, and not to mention all the corruption of the PPP was involved in ways to many to mention. The fish rotten from the head down, now it is clean up time getting rid of all the dead weight . I wish the new government a long run to bring back some order and respect to the country. Dr. Luncheon needs to stop being such a clown and stop his stupid talk.