PPP executive closes ranks behind Jagdeo
'I have not withdrawn support for government' -Nagamootoo
Stabroek News
November 23, 2003
The PPP's executive committee has closed ranks behind Bharrat Jagdeo's presidency and its social and economic programmes in the face of the recent declaration by former Information Minister, Moses Nagamootoo that he intends to seek the nomination for the 2006 elections.
In a comment yesterday to Stabroek News, Nagamootoo reaffirmed his decision to challenge Jagdeo: "I cannot now be a disinterested leader. I have signalled my availability for 2006." But he added that, "No one should read into this that I have withdrawn my support for my government. If anything my announcement is a declaration of my willingness to join the current efforts to do things better and deliver the manifesto promised to all our people."
He had declared his intention to seek the nomination in an interview with Yesu Per-saud aired on CNS Channel 6 on November 8. Nagamootoo reaffirmed his intention to seek the nomination in an interview with Current Affairs, a Stabroek News supplement, published in its November 19, issue. In that interview Nagamootoo also expressed disappointment about the loss of momentum in certain programmes initiated during the Cheddi Jagan presidency, such as the forging of national unity and the pace of the constructive engagement process which he says has yet to make a positive difference in people's lives. Nagamootoo is a member of the executive committee which issued a statement on the matter after a meeting on Friday.
The statement reads, "... notwithstanding Mr Naga-mootoo's declared interest in the Candidature for the 2006 Presidency, he is aware that there exists a well-established internal mechanism for nomination and selection. He is also aware that that mechanism has not been activated."
It says too, "Mr Naga-mootoo has assured the Party that his declaration was not intended as a challenge to the incumbent President Bharrat Jagdeo as he continues to support the Presidency."
The statement notes, "In accordance with its Consti-tution, the Party has well established and functioning mechanisms to accommodate differences, among the members and leadership. These mechanisms allow for
common party positions to be arrived at after full deliberations."
The statement says that persons and sections of the media are exploiting Naga-mootoo's recent public statements to suggest that there are divisions in the party and its leadership with regard to several matters, including the unity of its leadership, the leadership's support for the government's economic and social programmes, its internal governance mechanisms and the direction of the Government-PNCR constructive engagement.
Speaking with the Stabroek News about the PPP executive committee's statement, Nagamootoo described it as a reflection of the committee's feeling on his declaration of availability for the 2006 elections.
He said that this recent statement was not the first occasion that he has made his position public on the question of a choice, as he had done so in 1997 when his name featured prominently in media speculation about possible successors to the late Dr Cheddi Jagan.
"My main concern then was about the unity of the PPP and the stability of its government." He added that because he was aware of the grave and even deadly consequences that followed in Third World countries from leadership contests after the death of charismatic leaders, he publicly withdrew himself as a choice for successor or for a state position.
He said too that he was one of the persons who had approved of Janet Jagan, Sam Hinds and Bharrat Jagdeo, as the party's A team to contest the 1997 elections.
"So it is not correct to say that I was passed over for the presidency after Dr Jagan's death. I was just not available for any contest."
He said too that his performance at the election of the party's central committee at the 1998 party Congress when he and then President Janet Jagan received the most votes, gave him the feeling "that our members felt that I should not be passed over in the post-Janet Jagan period".