Time for open debate, secret balloting at PPP Congress – Ramkarran
Ralph Ramkarran
Sunday March 24, 2013- (Demerara Waves)- Former Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) member, Ralph Ramkarran has challenged the governing party to cease orchestrating decisions and results for office holders and instead design a plan to rescue it from its “worst crisis” in 20 years including power-sharing with the opposition.
“I dare the leadership to place on the agenda of the Congress these two options for the way forward in the present political impasse and shifting electoral sentiments, take no position on it, do not privately campaign against it, and allow a full, free and balanced debate. Then take the decision by secret ballot,” said Ramkarran.
The PPP’s next congress is scheduled for August 2 to 4 in Port Mourant, East Berbice- the birthplace of late party co-founder Chedd Jagan- where, according to Ramkarran, the party suffered one of its biggest defeats in the November 2011 general election. “It was in Berbice, the traditional stronghold of the PPP, that the greatest loss of votes took place and the greatest apathy among PPP supporters was detected at the 2011 elections.”
He has in a previous column advocated power-sharing if the PPPC again loses a simple majority in the next general election.
In his latest column first published on www.conversationtree.gy, the former Executive Committee member sought to justify the move towards secret balloting by the estimated 1,000 delegates on grounds that the leadership had orchestrated opposition against him at the 2008 Congress that had been held at Diamond.
The veteran politician warned that the PPP against holding a congress where the expected outcomes are achieved, amidst populist sloganeering, with a superficial show of unity, but simmering discontent and a collapsed organizational infrastructure below the surface.
He urged the PPP, too, not to hold a Congress which accuses the opposition, the press and poor organization for its worst crisis in twenty years and one of the most challenging in its history.
“It needs a Congress which smells the coffee, sheds the Party’s negative images, democratizes, tackles corruption, renews its commitment to and restores the pride and inspiration of its members in its great mission of liberation and social justice, involves them in developing the policies of the Party and gives them free reign to frankly and freely discuss and debate where the Party went wrong in 2011, and the options of whether the Party should go forward alone or together with the opposition,” he added.
Noting that all campaigning is frowned upon and frequent complaints made, he said negative and positive “substantial campaigning” goes on “in favour of friends or against those out of favour.”
Ramkarran referred to an unnamed “comrade” who would again at this Congress be the victim of such vulgarity by manipulating the way Central and Executive Committee members are voted into office.
“It was used more recently to let a comrade know his/her place. And it will be used against that comrade at the elections of the CC at the Congress to reinforce the message to the comrade and to let the membership and the public also understand that the comrade has a place but can go no further,” he said.
He further warned that such a ‘vulgar’ approach could be the virtual death-knell of the PPP for a long time to come. “Unless at the Congress this growing cancer is excised, the supporters and the electorate will combine to deliver a blow to the Party from which it will take years to recover, if at all. If the Party leadership is demonstrably not fair to its own leaders and schemes against them, the electorate will conclude that it cannot be fair to the citizens of Guyana and will scheme against them also.
In Ramkarran’s case, the he recalled being voted down from between his usual 7th to 10th place to 22nd on the 35-member Central Committee and 14th or second to last on the 15-member Executive Committee.
“The centrally directed campaigns against me at the Congress for the CC and afterwards for the Executive Committee were fiercely negative and vulgar. It was the worst since that against Balram Singh Rai in the 1960s.
Its objective was not merely to let the membership know that I would not be favoured as the presidential candidate but to publicly deliver a heavy dose of humiliation and demoralization. Long before the Congress there were clear indications consciously given that I would not be the candidate. But that was not enough,” he added.
Ramkarran said the same approach was used against him mmediately after the elections in 2011 to assert my ‘unsuitability’ for potential inclusion in the Cabinet.
He said when Mrs. Janet Jagan complained about the campaigning at the first CC meeting after the Congress, it was brazenly justified to silent CC members. Ramkarran noted that many of my close colleagues, friends for decades, then fell in line with the delivered ‘wisdom’ about me at the Congress. “A few refused and paid the consequences. I have hesitated to use my subjective, personal, experiences for analytical purposes, lest the usual howls of ‘sour grapes’ and ‘bitterness’ detract from what I am trying to achieve by writing on this matter. My purpose is to expose the same basic methodology at work today in the forums which, unless discontinued, will further damage the Party.”
Comments
Mr Ramkarran, the time has come for you and others like you who have been disenchanted with the PPP and the Governance of the country to test the Political Waters in Guyana and set up a New Political party called the People’s Alliance for Democracy and let’s get the ball rolling. All of the strategies that you have advocated will fall on the deaf ears of the upcoming congress. You and I know that. You and your disenchanted colleagues have a vision and a chance to do just what you want to see happen in Guyana and that is the POWER SHARING with all Parties that will bring Good Governance to Guyana and will hopefully solve the Crime situation. You are the man to lead and you have 5 months in which to do this. Set up the New Party and you will see how much od the disenchanted electorate will vote you into office. Your new political Party will muster enough votes to join the New Alliance with the other parties. This will be the beginning od the fall of the once great Political Party which your father once founded. The Corruption that is not being dealt with is enough to sweep the new party into Political Office. Try this and you will see the Magic of your Leadership.These are the last days of those corrupt Politicians. They are afraid of you and you should do the electorate the justice they deserve. This is that opportunity the country is waitihg for. Do not let us down! The young voters will be disappointed with you if you should do otherwise. You are a formidable force for the corrupt PPP. Long live the People’s Alliance for Democracy.
Unfortunately, there is a tendency for a few people within a group that seeks to control the group by all means necessary. Tjhis may be happening with the PPP. Ramkarran is right about open debate on political candidates secret voting. The question about power sharing must be decided by either a failure to gain a majority or a consensus on policies and their execution. Otherwise it may be simply a sharing of Ministerial jobs for political leaders and a possible divided government with different ideas on carrying out policies. A new party that appeals to all and recruits all patriot Guyanese would not be a bad idea byitself without any predetermined idea that power sharing is the end all for Guyana unless the power is for the people and not just politicians. Good leaders and poliocies serve all Guyanese regardless of race, economic status, gender etc. .
Cyril
I echo your call to Mr Ramkarran to ‘begin the end’ by leading the way
and by breaking away from the old negativity in his old party politics.
Guyana needs change especially in its party politics and this gentleman
is the obvious candidate to initiate such a change. He is a person with
the integrity that Guyana politics so desperatey needs.
Hope he listens to your call and acts on it.
Good luck
Kamptan
Cyril Balkaran – As a Guyanese living in a diaspora and this is certainly only from my perspective – I left Guyana but Guyana never left me. Therefore it would be very refreshing to know in my life time that a party evolution is a real happening. Sure democratic ideals would be a great ethos to start with; but I do have some other questions so do please allow me to ask them of you!
Will this new ethos be really about bringing REAL CHANGE TO GUYANA or just another EXCHANGE? Is it to really serve all our people and not exploit any of them further?
Will it be really democratically all inclusive? which will be mean ‘REAL ALL INCLUSION RECOGNITION’ identifying that we are really Brothers, Sisters, Cousins etc. members in one large Race ‘The HUMAN RACE’ and do really need each other to be successful. With no exception to Race, Color, Class, Nationality, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religion, or any other form of ‘PEOPLE DISCRIMINATION’ to start?
In addition – What will be the working human values of the party?
What role will the values of Trust, Honesty and Loyalty play?
How will they continually be earned from the electorate by the government when formed?
Further will the party be willing to do the difficult, honest hard work of real analysis and evaluation, focused on forward thinking, logic,achieve ability and affordability based on the current Guyanese economic status; to offer a platform that will be really Realistic, Time Framed, Affordable, Achievable, Accountable and Transparent.
A platform that will bring the new and revolutionary thinking to Guyana and all it’s people of ‘Yes We Can’! Not ‘ No we Cannot’ and ‘No More False Excuses’; to also offer real opportunity change to the audience that participates in large volume,worthless, negative conversation flow and criticism about Guyana – which goes no where continually and is just a bunch of worthless none productive talk by a some Guyanese.
A platform that offers Real, Affordable, Achievable,Time Framed, Logical Solutions to the Mega problem of poverty on which I suspect the current criminal activity flourishes.
Solutions for creating Real paying Jobs, Affordable Housing, Medical Care, Education, and Other Social Reform Opportunities which will assist current qualified Poor to work up to Middle Class Status with in a reasonable time frame.
Solutions to deal with any and all current crime and corruption and how the perpetrators will repay (not be punished) by the society they once thought was their easy victim.
Brother is this the visionary example of a democratic thought ethos you are thinking and would like to see implemented?
A Guyana (our Guyana) that is fair and just to all its people; including any current criminal /corrupt perpetrators?
A Guyana that will move forward in leaps to earn it’s rightful place on the world stage, and on it’s way there,regain the right of respect (not disrespect) as a country and people – from it’s people and our world community.
I think I hear you! But did I really hear you? Am I interested? Yes I am; Am looking in search of? Yes I am.
My final question I ask you! Are we thinking the same (similar) democratic ethos about our Guyana? or am I wrong once more?
Let me know brother! Let me know!
The Nation is crying out for a change within the Political Administration of the Country. Every Guyanese has had an experience that has taught him or her the ills of Political Exploitation and the use of the Race Card. Today we are sure that we are united in our resolve to bring about real and meaningful change for the betterment of the lives of all Guyanese. Who would have thought that Jimmy Carter would have reasoned with Desmond Hoyte and allowed him to give up the Political Power he wielded. This is now history and the Good Governence that we expected came and went as our famous leaders were laid to rest.
Mr. Ramkaran has demonstrated that ability to put together a team of Guyanese Nationalists who will appeal to all the Nation and who will bring on board men and women of Integrity and Morality and who will work assiduously on the ACCORD OF ACCOMMODATION. They will be the lawyers, the doctors, the Businessmen, the Priests, the Sport Icons, the Philosophers and rightful Thinkers of the Nation and they shall solemnly pledge to the rising of a New Political Culture and New Beginning in National Affairs of our nation. Ferdie you and I know that the Price of all this is based on a new spirit of our People. Our Culture and Pluralism as a People and Nation will show the way and the Courage to Come Together as ONE UNITED FORCE to compel the powers that be that we have had enough and enough is ENOUGH. Our Country needs people like you and I and Kamptan, and all right thinking people of the Diaspora to echo the sounds of change and to do their small role to bring to their Motherland that Good Governence that she deserves. WE would have failed in our life time to do what Eusi and Reepu could not do while theyand their comrades walked the Corridors of Political Powers. The time is now and the time is ripe for all our voices to be heard. ONE of our past leaders said. “Stand up and be counted of remain silent and be trampled upon.” The small Caucus who will take control of the Thinking tank for the new dispensation must voluntarily identify themselves to the Core of the new leadership. Everything in the beginning will not go right as we know but we can work out the difficult spots with Mr.Ramkaran and his Nationalist thinking group. In T&T and elswhere we have had all kinds of difficult accommodations and the people have acceded to the People’s Government. Mistakes will be fewer as we move into an accommodation that we have signed into an Accord. It will not be power for powersake. It will not we change for change sake, nor will it be exchange. There will be the Concensus and agreements among all Leaders and the Accord of the Accommodation will spell that out. The failures of the Past arrangements are too numerous under the Party Politics and Party System and those failures should point the way for the New Dispensation in the Political Arena that we all want to shape for the Birth of another Guyana where we shall truly be countes as “ONE PEOPLE<ONE NATION AND ONE DESTINY. Let's keep the fires of hope burning brighter every day as we continue this Interesting Dialouging! Long live the People of Guyana. Long live the Alliance for Good Governance!
In the above reply to Frank and others I inadvertently mentioned Ferdie instead of Frank. I think Cyril Bryan can adjust that. Thanks.
Cryil – Your statements regarding the above sounds rather interesting and the passion you feel is very obvious. Your references quoted below resonated with me..
“Today we are sure that we are united in our resolve to bring about real and meaningful change for the betterment of the lives of all Guyanese”
“ It will not be power for power sake. It will not we change for change sake, nor will it be exchange. There will be the Consensus and agreements among all Leaders and the Accord of the Accommodation will spell that out”.
I have never spoken to any potential leader from Guyana that has impressed me regarding their ability to have real revolutionary thinking. Frankly I lost interest quickly in them, and their so called change message – which ended up the way I had thought being a real exchange with no real change.
Further the all inclusive of all Guyanese they spoke to, was really all inclusive for and about themselves. Guyana needs Real Change that will be definitely totally inclusive with no exception to Race, Color, Class, Nationality, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religion, or any other form of ‘PEOPLE DISCRIMINATION’ to start? I would be very interested in a group that reflects this type of thought power.
I look forward to hearing much move regarding the operational values etc of and I quote you again – “the small Caucus who will take control of the Thinking tank for the new dispensation who must voluntarily identify themselves to the Core of the new leadership, and the men and women of Integrity and Morality and who will work assiduously on the ACCORD OF ACCOMMODATION. They will be the lawyers, the doctors, the Businessmen, the Priests, the Sport Icons, the Philosophers and rightful Thinkers of the Nation leadership group.”
It would be interesting for me to see what the end result of the “ACCORD OF ACCOMADATION” will be as it relates to being all inclusive and the morals, thinking etc. worked with and applied by these folks, to create this real new revolutionary pathway for our Motherland Guyana, being referred to and which I really look forward to hearing more about.
Please allow me to state that Guyana’s history is filled with people of similar professions, callings etc. and just look where we are now.
Although it will be nice to have these types of folks on board, I must remember and think one does not hold credit ability morals etc. by being assigned to a profession, calling etc., as credibility is always earned.
I really don’t mean to sound pessimistic but I have traveled this road before and it turned out to be a very disappointing journey .
I thank you for your response and do look forward to learning more as progress is accomplished.
May the creative power of the universe, focus and guide our motherland Guyana and our fellow Guyanese – to always generate purposes for their Highest Most Good.
Frank I am not amazed at the things most people will do when in Political Power to make or break a nation or a National movement. You see around this Global village at the utter destruction of what was created in the last 100 years of Human Life and existence and one wonders whether Adolf Hitler really did what he was accused of doing.
However Frightening Hitler’s actions were, they created havock, mayhem and murder in Europe and today the world is paying another price for the destabilition of the Middle East. From the murder by hanging of Saddam Hosein to the murder of Colonel gadaffi. The 21st Century must not be the same initiative everywhere neither must reason lose itd head in dead habit.
I am now 66 years of age and am comforted by what others have said ” The Lives of GREAT MEN do remind us that we can make our lives sublime and departing leave behind us Footprints on the sands of Time”
We in the diaspora would like the best for our Motherland, Guyana, but when we look at the long, torturous, arduous and collapsing journey to the Utopia we may visualize and we ask of ourselves where are we in this Journey of Liberation. Who are the others who want to be a part of the Guyanese Dream and where do they stand right now. What are the answers, Brother Frank? And when we can ascertain these questions then we will know not only where we stand but where we are going. The future can never be a passive on. History will not lead us for we are the current leaders with the vision and the dream. Our census must begin with all right thinking people who have a similar dream. Remember the price Martin Luther paid for having an AMERICAN DREAM?
This is history and we have many years and years of struggle were able to place a reasonable human being in the form of Barrack Obama at the helm of that AMerican Dream. So my brother in the 1960’s we had a man who went to the SUA and having entered the oval Office and sat in the rocking chair of the late John F Kennedy, he is reported as saying to the great American president after he was asked to forget the Communism he was advocating in Guyana and turn to him for the Independence of British Guiana,his retort to the President which was reported in the Authur Sleshenger’s book named Kennedy’s 1000 days in office. thus: “Mr. President, no amount of $US dollars can buy ,me,my political party not the Government of which I have the honor to lead.” The country paid the first price for this leader’s words. The rest is again History.
While we may be ambitious in the 21 st Century Politics and while time is longer than twine, we must no for get the exemplars of History. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela.
The guyanese Diaspora must spell their roles in ths Advocacy for CHANGE at every step of of our interesting Dialogue and must claim representation on any Instrument and Accord that will be treated as an Accord of Accommodation. They must also dialogue with those who are in a position to take this discussion to the next level.
The next level is a meeting of Minds. Let’s issue a Call to all and sundry to meet in some Caribbean Island as Tobago for example and set our Minds at work. We can secure Sponsors for a 2 or 3 day trip and we can invite the Hon Ramkaran to join us in our noble Venture. This is my take for thr time. We can speak to Mr Granger at another time. We cannot speak to him at the same time since we seel to challenge his and Ramoutar’s authority by the manufacturing of an Accord to unseat this present Parliament of 65 people! This is my take on the issue and as for Frank we need some e mails to work with. You may have the knowledge and experiences of how this thing may start up but we will also need the support of the Diaspora out there. Keep the fires of hope alight and enrol our Soldiers of Peace for a meaningful change in our motherland.
My e mail is cyril_balkaran@yahoo.com.
Anyone of the Guyanese Diaspora who may wish to echo their sentiments on the New Dispensation under the People’s Alliance for Democracy may do so and feel free to connect with the leaders and founders of this new Alliance for meaningful change! World leaders are born they are not manufactured in some Political factory. Good luck and blessings for being a Soldier of Peaceful change in Guyana. We love you.