Ralph Ramkarran – Page 128 – Conversation Tree

HARAMBEE

In a referendum held in August, the people of Kenya voted by an overwhelming majority of 65 percent to support a new constitution. The draft, subjected to nationwide discussions and amendment, had been approved by the National Assembly in April.

By 2007 Kenya had been believed to be politically stable and growing at an annual rate of 5 percent. The increasingly authoritarian Daniel Arap Moi, who was President from 1978 to 2002, had term limits placed on him. His successor, President Mwai Kibaki’s, while avoiding Moi’s authoritarian excesses, failed to keep election promises to end corruption.

THE MILLIBAND BROTHERS

A fascinating spectacle is unfolding in the British politics. One of its greatest political prizes, the leadership of the Labour Party, is at stake and two brothers are leading the contest. Sons of the late Ralph Milliband, one of Britain’s leading Marxist intellectuals, David and Ed Milliband both served in the Cabinet of the last […]

THAT BUXTON VISIT

This President of Guyana, like all past Presidents, including Burnham and Hoyte, has not only a right, but a duty, to visit as much of Guyana as possible. One would have thought that, having regard to the recent history surrounding Buxton, and the regular outreach exercises pioneered and perfected by the President, that all would […]

A SOCIAL CONTRACT FOR GUYANA

Guyana is not unique in its system of adversarial politics. In fact, Guyana shares with most democratic countries an elected legislature to which competing parties seek membership. The extent of that membership depends on the votes received by political parties in elections. Each political party at these elections seek to persuade the electorate that it […]

ON SPEAKING OUT

Leaders of the PPP are accused from time to time of not speaking out. Both Emile Mervin and Frederick Kissoon, prolific commentators, so accused me recently. All organisations have rules. When you join one you agree to subscribe to its rules. There is no other basis on which an organisation can function. I chose to be a part of the PPP and to abide by its rule against public criticism.

Very often members of organisations have differences with proposed decisions. When these differences are on a fundamental principle, then the member is expected to resign. However, once members have a common purpose, differences not on fundamental principle are usually resolved. This sometimes happens when the members whose views are not supported, accept the decision and continue to work for the common purpose. Leaders of the PPP, like other organisations, do not always agree with all of its decisions. After debate, the minority invariably chooses to accept the majority view and work together for its implementation.

The PPP and its government stand for many things. These include the elimination of corruption, transparency and an end to discrimination. Many measures have been implemented to deal with th