THE BLEEDING OF SYRIA AND THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Monday, 1st April 2013, 1:53 pm

As the killings continue, renewed focus is being directed to Syria and Palestine due to President Obama’s recent visit to Israel and the West Bank, Secretary of State Kerry’s visit to Iraq, the resignation of Moab al-Khatib as head of the Syrian National Council (SNC) and the latter’s occupation of Syria’s seat at the Arab League.

In a volatile part of the world, the stability of Syria and other influential countries, such as Egypt, is important. Whilst Syria’s friendship with Iran and support for Hamas of the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah of Lebanon were unacceptable to the West, it lived with the Assad regimes of father and son because they were stable internally, their policies were predictable, they neither offered nor posed any military threat to Israel and a different leadership could have been worse. But events have overtaken this thinking. The Arab Spring seized the consciousness of the Syrian people who rose up in rebellion, were mowed down by the regime’s bullets, and have now resorted to armed struggle.

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THE PPP’S 30TH CONGRESS

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Monday, 1st April 2013, 1:43 pm

The twice postponed 30th Congress of the PPP will be held in Port Mourant, Corentyne, on August 2 – 4. It will provide an opportunity for the Party to seek out inspiration from the birthplace of its founder. It was in Berbice, the traditional stronghold of the PPP, that the greatest loss of votes took place and the greatest apathy among PPP supporters was detected at the 2011 elections.

Congress is the major event in Party life. The approximately 1,000 delegates and observers from all across Guyana expect that their views will be heard and taken into consideration in  determining future Party and Government policies.

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ABUSE HAS NO PLACE IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Saturday, 16th March 2013, 8:41 pm

The slow dismantling of Cheddi Jagan’s legacy of reasoned debate as a method of convincing opponents and educating supporters began at the turn of the century. It created the opening for the introduction of  an alternative approach to political discourse – the cuss-down. Many had hoped that with the change in Government, this particularly degrading and offensive type of verbal assault would come to a welcome end. It was felt that necessity would dictate a change of course because it was believed that the cuss-down tactic caused the PPP to lose votes at the last elections. However, it appears to have been given a new lease of life at the rally at Babu John on March 3, in the name of Cheddi Jagan.

Cheddi Jagan always reserved his anger for systems and policies, not people. He fought against colonialism with the greatest zeal and the sharpest language, but never abused colonial officials and, in fact, worked with them between 1957 and 1964. He condemned imperialism not only in Guyana but worldwide. But he was unfailingly polite to its representatives. The same Cheddi Jagan proposed coalitions with the PNC and good relations with the United States throughout his life, never insulting or abusing their leaders.

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THE SPEAKER’S DECISION CANNOT BE REVERSED.

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Sunday, 10th March 2013, 1:06 pm

The view of the Opposition that a Member of the National Assembly can be prevented from speaking is nothing but weird. This battle was fought in England hundreds of years ago and was settled in 1689. Guyana must be the first country which inherited the British Parliamentary system in which this issue had to be fought all over again after more than three hundred years.

Despite all of this, the ruling of the Speaker that Minister Clement Rohee is entitled to speak has not found favour with the Opposition. APNU expressed its displeasure but the AFC, quite properly, said that they will accept the Speaker’s ruling. APNU appears to be interested in tabling a motion to challenge the ruling with a view to having it reversed. Whether it will persist with this course in the certainty that the motion will be defeated, having regard to the AFC’s position, is not now clear.

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RESTORING THE JAGAN LEGACY AND THE ELECTORAL PROSPECTS OF THE PPP.

Written by Ralph Ramkarran
Saturday, 2nd March 2013, 8:22 pm

The annual Babu John memorial rally for Cheddi Jagan is to be held on March 3. At this time of year Jagan’s life, work and ideas are promoted by rallies, lectures, seminars and discussions. Athletic events and essay competitions are held in commemoration. While he was alive and the PPP was in opposition, there was usually a small, internal, annual birthday event in his honour. After his passing,  numerous public lectures were delivered on his work and ideas both at Freedom House and at his home. Many comrades spoke to the work and legacy of Cheddi Jagan. This continues today.

The legacy of Cheddi Jagan has been lost or abandoned by the PPP. It is one of the main reasons why the Party fared so badly at the last general and regional elections. This is not a secret and it is not something that has gone unnoticed. It is discussed with dejection among Party members all over Guyana and with resignation among Party leaders. Except for the courageous few, it is not a matter which many would dare to raise officially. To do so would imply criticism of the recent past, not a career enhancing move, rather than be seen as the collective failure that it is.

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The Conversation Tree is both physical and philosophical. The physical is the tree itself, which has given its name to the road from which it originates at the intersection of the Rupert Craig Highway. It was reputedly first planted by Napleton William King in 1876 to celebrate the birth of his son Napleton Walter. As...
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