Half term report
Editorial
The PPP's 'A' team is just about half way through its truncated term of office. How has it performed? President Janet Jagan, the leader of the `A' team, the head of state and constitutionally the chief executive, took power in 1997 with a long background of political experience. She had a reputation for administrative ability in her early days as a government minister and has always played a key role in running the political party founded by herself and her husband. In fact many give her a lot of the credit for keeping the party together during those long years in the wilderness. She did not take a position in the government when the PPP regained power in 1992 and only got involved again in active front line politics after the untimely death of her husband in 1997. Though she has shown great courage and perseverance in her role as President in the face of enormous pressure even her admirers will agree that she has not revealed a mastery of the details of government policies and programmes, as was revealed at the one press conference she held. Indeed, it seems she has not sought a hands on role, contenting herself with broad general statements. Though she still holds sway in the party on key issues, she is not the driving force in pushing government policies. But her opinion is given great weight in issues in which she is interested and takes a firm position in cabinet and she has continued to play a surprisingly active role attending international meetings and other events. Prime Minister Sam Hinds, the leading member of the Civic component in the government is, of course, not a member of the party. Educated and capable, he lacks decisiveness, partly because of his position as an outsider, and would not be a key player except perhaps in issues within his own portfolio. Frequently thrust into the hot seat he has managed to retain his composure and to ride things out with equanimity. Minister of Finance Bharrat Jagdeo, the third member of the `A' team, has had his hands full dealing with the international financial institutions on debt relief and the economic programme and has also been involved in some of the privatisations. Some who have worked with him say he learns quickly and is effective and decisive in negotiations. Having been identified at one stage as the heir apparent did not help him as it incurred the resentment of some senior party members. But he has certainly held sway in financial matters, in which he is much better informed than his colleagues, and remains the most powerful man in the cabinet in terms of his influence in decision making in key areas. The securing of the HIPC debt relief despite the various setbacks is a considerable achievement and the GAC privatisation, and hopefully the impending GEC privatisation, are positive developments. If a bauxite deal can be concluded this year with a joint venture partner that would be good news for Linden, Kwakwani and the economy as a whole, especially if there is some recovery in commodity prices. Though not a member of the `A' team, Dr Roger Luncheon as head of the presidential secretariat holds many of the strings of government policy in his hands and anecdotal evidence suggests that he exercises real power in several cases. He is very well informed by virtue of his position and coordinates much of what gets done. At his fortnightly press briefings he deals, often authoritatively, with a wide variety of topics. Clearly he is someone to be reckoned with and an important voice. One sometimes senses a vacuum at the centre and an unplanned or ad hoc response on various issues. That is not to say that there is division, just the lack of a firm, authoritative personality guiding things. President Jagan is not a young woman. She has had to face the most dreadful political pressure since being elected, some of it malicious and unfair. The economic downturn last year, partly due to global economic developments beyond her control and also partly to that same pressure, has made things even more difficult. Her own government cannot escape blame for failing to attract substantial new investment, perhaps its major failure though the circumstances have hardly been propitious. In a more developed country she would have the benefit of and to some extent be insulated by a cadre of high level advisers. That is not the case here. Buffeted by all these problems she must be finding it difficult to provide firm direction and control. Though she clearly has every intention of serving the rest of her term one must seriously question whether the party can retain her as the presidential candidate for the elections due in January 2001. Campaigning for the next elections could start by November next year. The party will presumably have to select a new presidential candidate, thus raising once again the issue of succession. Who is it likely to be?
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