Ramjattan leaves PPP Central Committee meeting after flare up
Stabroek News
February 1, 2004
Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, a member of the Central Committee of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), left a meeting of that party yesterday after his conduct was severely criticised.
A release from the PPP yesterday said that early in the eight-hour meeting, a number of members had raised the issue of Ramjattan, who had "consistently and unjustifiably attacked the Party Congress, the Party, members of the Leadership and the Government." In an invited comment, Ramjattan told Stabroek News that trying to save the party from discredit was not attacking the party.
The release also stated that central committee members had expressed "discomfiture" about sitting in the meeting with Ramjattan, "in view of the usual vehemence of his positions and remarks, [and] their lack of confidence that discussions will remain confidential." As such, they had indicated that they would leave, or would not participate in the discussions.
Ramjattan expressed himself yesterday as deeply shocked by the way in which he had been treated, and said that he regarded it as a prelude to a move to expel him from the PPP. Furthermore, he said that he had never breached confidentiality in relation to any matter dealing with the central committee or party activities.
He told this newspaper that advising that a certain course should be taken in relation to major issues was not attacking. "I do not interpret that as an attack on the party," he said; "I have consistently fought for what is right for the party, and I know that some senior leaders do not like the fight that I carry."
With reference to the controversy surrounding Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj, Ramjattan said that if an inquiry were to be held, Gajraj could be vindicated, just as Prime Minister Blair was in the Hutton inquiry in the UK.
There were those in the PPP who thought he asked too many questions both as a parliamentarian and as a party member, he told Stabroek News, going on to observe, "When I joined this party I did not give up my right to freedom of expression." Criticism of the views held by some senior leaders, he said, could not be regarded as threatening party unity; it was a matter of doing what was right for the party.
The PPP statement said that the central committee had been informed about a letter sent to Ramjattan, which had invited him "once again" to discuss the attacks he had made. This newspaper understands that a complaint had been filed earlier against Mr Ramjattan by the executive committee, and that this comes up for hearing next Friday before a disciplinary committee of the party.
The release also said that the central committee had reviewed the current political environment and had "reaffirmed its support for the constructive engagement process, the administration's handling of the opposition/media allegations against the Minister of Home Affairs and policy initiatives to accelerate economic growth..."
The PPP concluded by saying, "The Central Committee once again highlighted the importance of party discipline and unity."