The PPP central executive and the ‘Gang of 8’
Stabroek News- June 15, 2015 In Letters: by Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr)
In my recent letters, I have alluded to the PPP’s Gang of 8, and so as not to have the public confused, let me now name the Gang: Mr Jagdeo, Dr Luncheon, Mr Ramotar, Mr Rohee, Ms Teixeira, Mr Zulfikar Mustapha, Dr Frank Anthony and Mr Kellawan Lall. These persons constitute a majority in the central executive of 15 members and they stick together like crazy glue, outvoting and outvoicing the other 7 members, who fall in line with the ‘yes-man’ syndrome.
The ultimate and only decision-making body in the PPP is this central executive which is akin to the traditional communist politburo, and which could be found in the whole communist world before its collapse.
How is this Gang of 8 and the central executive constituted? It is through the process of democratic centralism, another relic from a failed communist past. All communist governments worldwide used democratic centralism as their mantra, trying to fool their subjects into believing that democracy should be centralized in the hands of a few.
In fact, real democracy is totally the opposite and is based on the widest, ever-expanding base of people, who, committed to a cause (or a party), can express themselves freely and choose their representatives in an open, transparent and fair manner. This is what happens in the United States where leaders who don’t measure up to the people’s standards are replaced at regular intervals. Thus democracy works from the ground up, instead of the PPP’s way, from the top down, which is a proven failure, as the communists worldwide found out when they were thrown out of power because of the groundswell at the bottom. Remember, I am not inventing false premises because the whole leadership of the PPP admits to a belief in communism (Marxism-Leninism); the only party in the anglophone Caribbean to do so.
Editor, below the central executive (politburo) and the Gang of 8, is the central committee, which, just as in the former communist countries, is really a rubber stamp of yes-men and women for the decisions of the Gang of 8. Just as in those former communist countries, in Guyana the central committee consists of faceless people who follow the whims and wishes of the politburo. At Congress here in Guyana, these persons are all personally approved by the politburo and then voted into the central committee. There is no democracy in the PPP, but people at the lower levels accept this dictatorial set-up because they are powerless to do otherwise, and are caught up in a tradition of undemocratic procedures and principles.
Editor, the PPP is in violation of all the principles of the traditional Caricom political parties who reference the parliamentary system of the UK and operate on those principles of democracy, where challenges to incumbent leaders take place. For example, in Trinidad, Ms Kamla Persad-Bissessar challenged Basdeo Panday for the leadership of their party and displaced his malign leadership to assert a new direction and success for the party and bring the electoral victory which Panday could never have achieved. In Antigua, the same challenges occurred and success followed.
In the PPP, because of democratic centralism, a euphemism for dictatorship, the Gang of 8 tolerates no challenges and, just like previous communist regimes before it such as the former Soviet Union (the PPP’s ‘Mecca’ − they still sell books about the Soviet Union at the Michael Forde Bookstore at Freedom House) where Mr Jagdeo was educated and where most leaders died in power in their old age, this Gang of 8 wants to get old and die in control of Freedom House. The supporters of the PPP have to ask the question now, since their defeat at the polls, can communism (Marxism-Leninism) make this country a better place? If not, then all the members and supporters of that party should start the process in their removal just as Ms Persad-Bissessar removed Mr Panday in Trinidad.
PPP supporters need to wake up and bring back Jagan’s honesty, integrity and patriotism to the party before it is too late.
Yours faithfully,
Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr)
Article printed from Stabroek News: http://www.stabroeknews.com
Comments
Interesting …expose
Is joey now “whistle” blower ?😈
Some similarities with Labour party in UK after loss and inevitable resignation of its leader Ed Milliband.
Some say his brother David was the better choice.
Now there are 4 musketeers in contest for replacement leader.
Am no left or right politically more realist.
Russia had their chance to change (diversify) and blew it.
China is living proof that capitalism works
America is heading for socialism as per Euroland.
Guyana……much too soon to “predict” direction/outcome.
We shall see
PPP will certainly have to rebrand itself if it is to survive.
Party of the “working class” …common people.
Guy Fawkes night is when the Brits have bon fire to commerate
the plot to blow up parliament…..
Why not bonfire night to remove some “dead wood” in PPP.
Enjoyed the expose
Snowden comes to mind…..now a Russian citizen/traitorer.
The evil that men do lives after them
The good often buried with their bones
Their DNA lives on in their children/grandchildren
Que Sera Sera Joey Jagan
There are some good people, some bad people and some ugly people among the PPP leadership, but most of the people in the PPP party are good people. I hope Kamptan suggestion of a “bonfire” of the “dead wood” in the PPP hierchy will create a new growth of better leadership. Leadership that would be dedicated to the welfare of the people, rather than themselves and their political ideologies. Let it not be a “slow fire” but a quick consuming bonfire of not only deadwood, but also driftwood.
A word of advice. My Brother be caeful, watch your back.
Adolphus.
This brother needs not only to watch his back. Have other people watching your back and reading your articles. When you get into the party’s inside story, you’re on dangerous ground. All the best.
It is good to see that some former PPP strongmen are letting the Guyanese population know what that party really stands for. However, it is not what they stand for but what has to be done to educate their unsuspecting, diehard supporters of what lies ahead if that party is ever allowed to regain control of the country, regardless of whether they rebrand themselves as angels or saviours of the people. I particularly like Deen’s suggestion of a quick consuming bonfire of not only deadwood but also driftwood. That party should be relegated to the annals of the dead.
Kamptan I agree that it is much too early to determine direction/outcome but I certainly feel that if the population of Guyana wizens up and holds the feet of the current government to the fire (make them keep their election promises) the direction in which Guyana heads should be quickly and accurately determined. But like you said, we shall see.
It’s good to see that the PPP/C is not racist or sexist or religionist/Indianist as some have purport – Dr Luncheon, Ms Teixeira, Mr Mustapha, Dr Anthony. I salute the PPP/C for its inclusiveness. This is music to my ears.
Soooo Joey is is criticizing the PPP/C for having a “gang of 8” that makes all the decisions in the party. But he runs to a party APNU+AFC that uses violence and worse to make those very same decisions. Violence and strong armed tactics were used for Granger to become the head of APNU and similar strong armed tactics were used for the Indian Nagamotoo to become head of AFC when is was supposed to go the Negro Guyanese.
Joey, what you’r doing is known as pot calling the kettle black. Or jumping from the frying pan into the fire. You don’t think much before you spew. Do you? The senility of old age. A terrible tragedy when one insists on still being heard.
Dr. Anthony????? Luncheon’s natural place was in the PPP because he at least used to be a hard core Marxist. It’s the Marxists who “included” everybody else. Same with Texiera.