As the curtain comes down on Mr. Ramotar’s failed political career, he ponders what if..?--Joey Jaga

JULY 4, 2015 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER LETTERS

Former President Ramotar has not been seen, heard or noticed in the press since the recent elections, and now we are coming to the general understanding that he is not to be the leader of the Opposition. The PPP has dumped him in favour of Mr. Jagdeo and it is now that we, the citizens of Guyana, can see that all along, Mr. Ramotar was being controlled by Mr. Jagdeo. Leadership, especially at the presidential level, requires three attributes which Mr. Ramotar clearly lacked and that is why he is at the end of his political career, with no coming back, ever.The three attributes which he lacked are fortitude, persistence and acumen and combined with his uncompromising Marxism-Leninism, the die was cast for his historic defeat at the polls in May. Mr. Ramotar’s acumen was indeed at low levels when he decided to run his PPP minority administration after the 2011 elections without compromise, consideration and collusion with the opposition forces to get things done and even bringing them into a government of national unity. Mr. Ramotar showed his lack of political fortitude when he turned a blind eye to the excesses and mistakes of the Jagdeo years in office, not correcting nor condemning corruption, while accepting Jagdeo’s dictatorship in the PPP. The election cycle showed Mr. Ramotar’s lack of fortitude as he actually allowed Jagdeo to take over the campaign and relegate him to a back seat. Mr. Ramotar’s lack of persistence in getting things done for the people of Guyana is glaringly clear in the Berbice region where, as leader, continuous work should have been done for the people’s welfare instead of the humdrum and inconsistent regional activities carried out by officials there. Berbice is just a microcosm of the situation countrywide, where Mr. Ramotar’s lack of persistence in solving problems was a factor in his ultimate demise. It is a sad occurrence when a person cannot understand their inherent weaknesses and capabilities, especially in politics, and that is why Mr. Ramotar will, within a short period, become a mere footnote in the historical pantheon of political figures Guyana has produced. He has left nothing behind; no written enlightenment or concrete evidence of legislative accomplishments. No imposing edifice was built while he was president. There wasn’t even real popularity for him among the people of Guyana. Donald Ramotar is left with only memories of the good times – travelling first class and getting the red carpet treatment (like in India with PM Modi) while President, to many places he really did not need to go to…and he went away too many times! Instead of going around our country where poverty, crime and futility were needful of his attention, Ramotar made the good life his modus operandi and now, forced retirement looms with the band-wagon of soup drinkers and yes men running for cover. As the curtain comes down on Mr. Ramotar’s failed political career, political loneliness and introspection of his political failings will now become his constant companions as he ponders what if..? Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.)