Jagdeo set to assume presidency
FINANCE Minister, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo is to be sworn in today as Prime Minister by President Janet Jagan ahead of his scheduled appointment Wednesday as the new President. This follows the resignation yesterday of Prime Minister Sam Hinds to clear the way for the appointment of Jagdeo under the Constitution. The President in an address to the nation yesterday afternoon confirmed she was stepping down as Head-of-State for health reasons and announced that Jagdeo will be taking her place. Jagdeo, 35, is to be sworn in as President on Wednesday afternoon and is expected to re-appoint Hinds as the Prime Minister. In a 10-minute radio and television address at 17:00 hrs, President Jagan said she can no longer offer to the nation "the vigorous and strong leadership" she provided during the 20 months since she was elected as the country's leader following the 1997 general elections. During the campaign for the elections, the governing People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) had announced the `A' team made up of the President, Jagdeo and Hinds. "It was stated at public meetings and through campaign material that should anything happen to the President, clear cut means would be used to replace the President by the third member of the `A' team, Bharrat Jagdeo, with the Prime Minister retaining his position in the post allotted to the Civic component of the PPP/Civic alliance," the President stated. "Therefore, I am overseeing the implementation of this promise to the electorate and am assuring all concerned that the responsibilities of good and strong leadership will be guaranteed." Under the Constitution, the Prime Minister is next in line if the President resigns. But the PPP/Civic alliance arrangement is based on the agreement that the PPP gets the Presidency and the Civic component is given the prime ministerial position. Jagdeo will retain the Finance portfolio until a new Finance Minister is appointed, a source told the Chronicle. Mrs. Jagan said it is important that the country be led by people who have the wisdom and know what is best in the interest of the country. "(The late) Dr. (Cheddi) Jagan brought dignity to this country. So did Mr. Samuel Hinds. I am confident that the new President, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo will do the same. He is youthful and has presided admirably over the important Ministry of Finance," the President declared. "I know he is firm in dealing with government business and not afraid to make decisions. His office requires that kind of firmness. "He will be aided by many veterans in the field of politics and those who have experience in running the affairs of the country." But the President assured that she will be around to assist in whatever way she can. Sources said she would be at the disposal of the Government and the new President for advice and continues to be a member of the PPP Central Committee and the Executive Committee. President Jagan said over the last month, she had been giving serious thought to demitting office since she fell ill after returning from the Rio de Janeiro Summit of leaders of the European Union (EU), Latin America and the Caribbean. The President, 78, suffered a mild heart attack last month and was hospitalised here briefly. She then left for more tests at a clinic in Ohio in the United States but these showed there was no need for surgery. However, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon said Friday, Mrs. Jagan has been put on an "aggressive" exercise schedule and medication, and is due back for a re-evaluation of her condition later this year. "Despite assurances that my condition is not life-threatening, I found that my energy and stamina have been seriously reduced," the President explained. The Head-of-State remarked on the political instability the country has been facing since the last general elections, but said she is optimistic advancement and change will come in time. "We are not alone in being beset by unreasonable and uncivilised behaviour of an opposition that cannot accept the results of democratic elections," the President said. "...an unreasonable opposition cannot hold back growth and development, once the leadership and people stand firm." She said her Government has been criticised for being too "soft and weak" when dealing with those "who want to destroy our gains as a nation," but noted the administration's attitude was one of patience. "We realised that the State and Government, not the opposition or destructive elements, have the responsibility to see to it that the society does not descend into anarchy. We needed to have great political wisdom and prevent racial conflagration by finding new ways to solve the problems of a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society," the President contended. "The opposition by now must know the response of society at large to the destruction they have caused both to the economy and to the social fabric of the nation. "As a politician with some fifty years experience in this country, I can assure you that such tactics can cost votes. And that is what they will reap - the wrath of the people." But she said the process of "healing the wounds of our nation" must continue. "This will take courage and strong will. To bring peace requires understanding and this must be done without violence or disruption of the daily lives of our people," Mrs. Jagan said. "There must be reasonableness and a will to find common grounds if there is to be peace, progress and prosperity. "The future of this country is at stake and we cannot allow the iron fist to rule. We have had enough of that." The President said during its time in office, her administration has succeeded in "stemming the slide that was evident in our society for decades." She said it has had the task of consolidating democracy and urged that protection of it is vital for the development of the country. "We all cherish this new freedom and we must see to it that at all costs there must never be a return to authoritarianism and rigged elections. The results of that part of our history are still here for us to see," President Jagan warned. The Guyanese leader said it is also her Government's intention to rebuild the economic and social infrastructure of the country, and its open economic system is intended to bring growth and human development. (MICHELLE ELPHAGE) 
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