The PPP/C has a process for selecting presidential candidates and every member is entitled to offer himself or herself up for the presidency. Whether the candidate succeeds is another matter, says President Bharrat Jagdeo.

Asked at a press briefing on Friday about former information minister Moses Nagamootoo's decision to offer himself as a presidential candidate for the 2006 general elections, Jagdeo said, "I think everyone has an entitlement, the right to run... when that process is reopened."

However, he said that he would go along with the statement issued by the PPP/C on Nagamootoo's announcement. While Nagamootoo, an Executive Committee member of the PPP, has declared his intention to challenge Jagdeo for the presidency in 2006, he has, according to the party's statement, declared that he would continue to support Jagdeo in office.

Asked if he is nominated for the presidency by the party in 2006 whether he would accept or not, Jagdeo replied, "I'll answer you at another time."

Ha added that there was one issue which people did not seem to be clear about or which was being peddled around deliberately "not necessarily by Moses". This was that in the original selection process in 1997 only one particular person was chosen, Nagamootoo was by-passed and the decision was taken behind close doors "that [former president] Janet Jagan decided that I should be the person."

Jagdeo recalled that he was in Africa when the party was discussing who should be contesting the presidency in the run-up to the elections. There were many candidates and there was a debate on the names. "There wasn't one candidate." He said he had deliberately ignored the rumours because "you would never find me trying to settle internal party matters, in the public."

He said Nagamootoo was part of the discussion and supported his candidature when the decision was taken to contest the 1997 general election under a `troika' formula.

Eventually, it was agreed that they should go to the elections with the `troika' formula, that is, that the PPP should have the presidency and the Civic component of the party hold the post of prime minister. He said Nagamootoo had supported his candidature and the concept that should anything go wrong with Mrs Jagan for any reason or if she should resign (which she eventually did) that he would take over the presidency.

After the decision was made by the Executive Committee it was taken to the Central Executive of the party who discussed and agreed to it. There were several regional and district conferences of the party all across the country and the formula was discussed and agreed to there, as well, Jagdeo recalled.