By Fareeza Haniff
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Former Executive Member of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Ralph Ramkarran believes that President Donald Ramotar has the ability to be a great President, but this will only be possible if he agrees to a coalition government.
During his appearance on the radio programe, ‘Hard Talk’ on 90.1 FM today, Sunday, September 07, Ramkarran was asked by host, Chris Chapwanya, about his thoughts on how effective Ramotar has been as President.
“That’s not a very easy question to answer. There is nothing wrong with Ramotar and there is nothing that is stopping him from being a great President. The reason why he is not a great President is because of the approach of the People’s Progressive Party to the current situation. And that is not Mr Ramotar’s decision. That is the decision of a group of people of the leadership of the PPP…. He takes their advice and guidance,” the Former PPP Executive said.
Ramotar heads a minority government with the combined Opposition having a one seat majority in the National Assembly. This situation has created a deadlock in the House with budget cuts and funding denied for several national projects as the government and Opposition cannot compromise.
Ramkarran believes that this stalemate can be broken if there is a coalition government.
“If Mr Ramotar decides today that he is going to negotiate a programme with a view to inviting APNU to join the government, the view of Mr Ramotar will be transformed overnight and Mr Ramotar has the makings of a great President and has the opportunity to write history in Guyana, he has the opportunity to transform Guyana to a different country, all he has to do is take it.”
He believes that the President has the ability to sell this idea to the leadership and lower down in the ranks of the PPP.
“Members of the PPP are anxious for a way out of this situation and will grasp at any leadership that is shown. I respectfully invite him to consider and make the move to change and transform Guyana,” Ramkarran said.
Ramkarran resigned from the PPP/C following a bitter dispute between him and other Party members. When asked if he will ever return to the PPP and play a leading role, he responded, “It’s not going to happen. I am regarded as an enemy by some persons in the leadership of the PPP.”
He also made it clear that he will not be joining with the Opposition forces.
what history is ramkarran talking about? wasn’t there a coalition govt in 1964? and what happened to this coalition govt? didn’t burnham describe the uf as a millstone around his neck, and subsequently dumped them? Guyanese must beware of these marriages of convenience as oftentimes they are built mostly on opportunism than a common vision for the Guyanese people.
Ralph,
Man, you are beginning to show signs of political wear and tear. Review paragraph 3 and see a concoction of your own contradiction. To say there is nothing wrong with Ramotar, and there is nothing stopping him from being a great President, yet the reason he is not a great President is because of the approach of the PPP, where a group of leaders give Ramotar advice and guidance, then something is wrong with Ramotar, as a leader, and he will never become a great President because of the party that produced him. It does not get any freaking stupider than that!
Paragraphs 6 and 8 speak voluminously to the vortex of desperation in which the PPP has found itself, which is why there is a push by people like you, Ralphie, to save the PPP by going for a coalition government. I have said before and repeat: it may well come down to the APNU/PNC, not Indian voters, being the PPP’s safety net before any elections, because the PPP does not have the Indian votes needed to be dominant anymore.
But everyone should notice how you made clear that “If Mr Ramotar decides today that he is going to negotiate a programme with a view to inviting APNU to join the government, the view of Mr Ramotar will be transformed overnight and Mr Ramotar has the makings of a great President and has the opportunity to write history in Guyana, he has the opportunity to transform Guyana to a different country, all he has to do is take it.”
Because no where in that politically biased opinion is the AFC mentioned, and everyone knows why: The AFC is the PPP’s Achilles heel! Even you, Ralph Ramkarran, do not like the AFC because it poses a greater threat than the PNC to the PPP! I really don’t know how you or anyone can even begin to think Ramotar will automatically become a great President if the PPP coalesces with APNU, but with Nagamootoo as the AFC’s presidential candidate, a PPP-APNU/PNC coalition appears more likely now than ever!