Basdeo Panday

Forget about CARICOM
AT THE last (16th) COTED (Council on Trade and Economic Development) meeting in Belize, the result on the Monitoring Mechanism reads that COTED noted that member countries have not provided the information as required under the Mechanism and COTED further urged that member states make sure that they submit same for the next COTED meeting which we all know will never happen.

The noting and urging has been going on since the 13th COTED - two years ago.

So, where do we go from here?

* The European Union should withdraw the 24 million Euros that is being made available to allow the CARICOM rice industry to become competitive

* President Jagdeo should forget about CARICOM and look south for our salvation because all COTED is doing, is urging – with no positive action on anything.

* Mr. Carrington should have enough guts to decide with his top officials that he is leading an ineffective organisation and same should be disbanded.

* Mr. Bernal at the RNM should stop all work he is doing where the WTO is concerned as regards CARICOM, as the member states are not doing the things they are asking him to achieve.
BENI SANKAR

Wednesday, April 21, 20

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT
I USUALLY try to refrain from responding to slander and propagandistic comments aimed at the PPP.

However, I have noticed that some letters appearing in the Stabroek News, particularly those that are written by Emile Mervin, keep repeating two lines:

(i) that Mrs. Jagan “…manoeuvred her way into the presidency…” and

(ii) that Mrs. Jagan “…handpicked Mr. Jagdeo…to be President…”

This falsehood is being repeated so often that it seems to me the intention is to create a “perception” that is even initially accepted as fact.

I therefore, wish to set the record straight.

First, Mrs. Jagan became President of Guyana in a democratic process both within the party and at verified free and fair elections in December 1997.

Let me say that in 1997 when the party had to choose its presidential candidate we had discussed and debated for many days.

Mrs. Jagan was a reluctant candidate. When we decided on her she pointed out to the party that while she was the longest serving member of the party she wanted the party to reconsider her nomination on the grounds of her age and the fact that she is white.

She felt that the racist PNC would make that the centre of their campaign.

After further discussions, again the party concluded that she was best and most worthy candidate for the 1997 elections.

However, taking into consideration Mrs. Jagan’s age at the time and the fact that the country and the party had suffered the trauma of the loss of Dr. Jagan, the party had to develop an appropriate approach.

Those were the conditions that led to the concept of an “A” team.

Out of those discussions we went to the elections openly declaring that Mrs. Jagan was the Presidential Candidate, Mr. Sam Hinds our Prime Ministerial Candidate and Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo as the third person on the “A” team.

We made it clear and public immediately as we launched our campaign that should anything occur to prevent Mrs. Jagan from serving out her term as President, should we win the elections, then Mr. Jagdeo would succeed Mrs. Jagan.

That was done on the basis of our understanding with our Civic partners that should the PPP/Civic win the elections then the PPP would hold the position as President and the Civic the position as Prime Minister.

It is therefore incorrect to make statements as those that I have cited above.

Mrs. Jagan and Mr. Jagdeo assumed the high office from the result of free and frank discussions in the PPP and PPP/Civic and from free and fair elections that were held in 1997.

Neither “manoeuvred” themselves into office nor was any individual “handpicked” for the position.

All in the interest of truth and accuracy.
DONALD RAMOTAR, M.P
GENERAL SECRETARY