Mrs Jagan's resignation
Editorial
The stunning announcement last evening by President Janet Jagan that she is stepping down for health reasons and handing over the Presidency to Finance Minister Bharrat Jagdeo marks the end of an important era in the ruling party's history and the beginning of a new and challenging one. As Mrs Jagan demits office this week, the People's Progressive Party (PPP) will effectively be without a Jagan at the helm for the first time in the 49 years of its history. While Mrs Jagan will undoubtedly remain active in the party and the political arena it will be from the fringes and not from the seat of power. How the party journeys from this point onwards will be of immense interest to the public. It is 56 years now since Mrs Jagan first came to Guyana and embarked with her husband, the late President Cheddi Jagan, on their odyssey to free Guyana of the shackles of colonial domination and to build a better future for its people. The quality of that commitment and dedication - no matter what her detractors say - is unquestionable and the entire country owes a debt of gratitude to her and must be grateful for her contribution. It is significant that in our `What the people say' feature today that seven out of 10 persons canvassed named Mrs Jagan among those who should be considered as Guyana's `Woman of the century'. Despite her own frail health, Mrs Jagan accepted the mantle of leading the party in the wake of the death of President Jagan in 1995 as it was felt that she was the figure around whom the party could build another successful campaign. She accepted the challenge and courageously led her party to a new term in 1997. Despite the most horrendous type of political pressure and agitation she persevered until suffering a heart ailment earlier this year. We wish Mrs Jagan many fruitful years of semi-retirement. The instruments of the executive presidency will now be passed to Finance Minister Jagdeo and we congratulate him on his elevation. His task in serving out the remainder of this term until the 2001 elections will not be an easy one. There are two pressing areas that Mr Jagdeo and his government will no doubt see as priorities for the remainder of this term. The first is to guide the ship of state through the turbulent and tricky waters of constitutional reform and political reconciliation. It has never been clearer than it is now that the political divisions that have rent the nation over the past two years or so need to be healed comprehensively to pave the way for progress that isn't of the stop-start quality. Mr Jagdeo will have to show an even greater commitment to making all segments of society feel that they have a real stake in Guyana's future. Perhaps an early meeting with PNC leader, Desmond Hoyte with a defined agenda could set the pace for this healing. The second priority would be to redouble efforts to reinvigorate the economy, empower the local manufacturing sector, stabilise the exchange rate and attract new significant, export-oriented investment. As Minister of Finance, Mr Jagdeo has presided over this portfolio with mixed results and he has been criticised for not doing enough or not being able to convince Cabinet to go the full monty and introduce bold innovations. The 1999 budget was criticised for lacking a vision and perhaps with the presidency firmly in his grasp Mr Jagdeo will be able to spark an economic resurgence. The manner of the switch in presidents also poses dilemmas for the PPP. In successive terms, neither of its two designated candidates have been able to serve out their terms. Dr Jagan died in the fourth year of his term and Mrs Jagan has served 20 months of what was originally a five-year term but which was then cut to 36 months via the Herdmanston Accord. Clearly in any future election and not only for the PPP, the health of the presidential candidate will have to be a major consideration. Secondly, it seems that Mr Jagdeo is serving out this term on the basis of a pledge that had been made prior to the `97 elections that the `A' team third candidate would replace Mrs Jagan if she was unable to complete her term. The prevailing view is that this `A' team is not immutable and is not guaranteed to be the slate that will be presented at the 2001 elections. The PPP has an important decision to make about succession and the sooner it is made, the clearer the country will be about where precisely the power levers reside. If Mr Jagdeo is not the automatic presidential nominee for the 2001 elections, inevitably behind-the-scenes party manoeuvring can have a debilitating impact on the presidency. It will also mean that his authority to govern will be somewhat limited and Cabinet may collectively play a stronger role in decision-making. An urgent decision will also have to be made on the finance and trade portfolios. It is unlikely that Mr Jagdeo can perform the functions of President and at the same time be a full-time Finance Minister. The naming of Mr Jagdeo as President also represents a sea-change of another type. For the first time in a long period, the country is being led by someone in the mid-30's and someone who will have a head start on his party rivals for the 2001 elections. Does this put pressure on the PNC at all in relation to its leadership? The impact of Mrs Jagan's departure and Mr Jagdeo's preferment will undoubtedly be lasting. But only with time will the nature of the impact be evident.
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