Hoyte trying to divert attention from problems
Ramotar
GENERAL Secretary of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), Mr. Donald Ramotar, last night said PNC leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte, was trying to divert serious problems within his party by opposing the appointment of Finance Minister, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo as President. "The PNC and its leader are descending more and more into pettiness", Ramotar told the Chronicle, reacting to Hoyte's charges at a press conference yesterday about the process of appointing a successor to President Janet Jagan due to resign today because of health reasons. He said "everyone knows (the governing PPP/Civic alliance) went to the electorate with the `A team' proposal and this was a commitment to the people of Guyana. People voted for this consciously." President Janet Jagan, former Prime Minister Sam Hinds and Jagdeo were the `A team' for the December 15, 1997 elections. In an address to the nation Sunday announcing her decision to resign, President Jagan recalled that in the campaign for the elections, it was stated that if anything should 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." Mr. Hinds resigned Sunday to allow Jagdeo to be appointed Prime Minister and then President today after Mrs. Jagan resigns, under the Constitution. He is to be re-appointed Prime Minister today. "Clearly, what we are witnessing is the PNC venting its frustration because it has been accustomed to unlimited power", Ramotar charged. He told the Chronicle the PNC has "enormous problems because it is the most undemocratic political organisation in the region, run autocratically by Hoyte who has now run into problems in the party and is trying to use this occasion to divert attention from his problems." Ramotar said he has noted that the PNC has postponed its congress for one year and suggested this "is a reflection of the kind of trouble they are in." "Hoyte should focus his attention on solving those problems and allow the nation to get on with development", he said.
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