'I have my own style' -Jagdeo tells Nascimento Stabroek News September 13, 1999 President Bharrat Jagdeo says his style of government is different from his predecessors and denied that he was a creature of former president, Janet Jagan. Speaking with Evening News commentator, Kit Nascimento, in an interview on Thursday on VCT Channel 28, Mr Jagdeo said that while he would not deviate from the manifesto promises of the PPP/Civic, he had his own ideas on how things should be done. "I have my own way of doing things. And in style, yes, there is a difference as every person is different," Mr Jagdeo told Nascimento. He also stated that it was not Mrs Jagan who chose him to be the one to succeed her, but the PPP's central executive, central committee and membership. He acknowledged that Mrs Jagan had tremendous influence in the party, but said that his succession was debated at the various levels of the party. Not allowing himself to be drawn into saying whether he would be in the race to head the PPP's slate for the next general elections, Mr Jagdeo said he had the support of other contenders for that post--Dr Roger Luncheon, Moses Nagamootoo and Ralph Ramkarran. "They are the people who made the decision for me to assume the presidency now," Mr Jagdeo stated. He said that this showed the political maturity of the PPP. But what of his ideology--having been brought up in a party of marxist orientation, having been educated in the then Soviet Union, and then becoming finance minister and President in a capitalist economy? "If trying to create incentives for the private sector [to be the engine of growth] and at the same time looking at social justice is socialism, then yes, I am a socialist," said Mr Jagdeo. However, he said if socialism means a dominance of the working class over other classes, then he is not a socialist. He also noted that his education should not be used as the tool to judge him ideologically, pointing out that the late presidents Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham were educated in the US and UK respectively, but turned out to be "fine communists". And touching on what needs to be done to spur economic growth, the President spoke of value added production and tailoring the incentive regime for businesses to go that route. However, he noted that proposals will flow from the business summit next month on what has to be done. Asked about him failing to deliver given that his speeches since assuming office had raised expectations, Mr Jagdeo said he had been careful in what he had been saying. He noted that his emphasis has been that he could not do it alone and needed the support of everyone. He has spoken of being the emissary of renewed hope for Guyana. He also urged that the opposition accept the PPP/Civic's proposal to have shadow ministers who would work with the government on dealing with issues of concern to all. Mr Jagdeo also said that his effort to reach out to the PNC and other parliamentary parties was genuine as much was at stake. A © page from: Guyana: Land of Six Peoples