Ramotar will not participate in presidential debate - Written by Denis Scott Chabrol
Thursday, 20 October 2011 09:53
Donald Ramotar, the presidential candidate for the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic’s (PPPC) has formally declined to participate in a presidential debate.
The debate is being organised by the non-governmental entity, Merundoi Incorporated.
“Please be advised that due to the late notice and the busy schedule of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic campaign, the PPPC’s presidential candidate, Donald Ramotar nor any of our senior leaders will be able to participate at this time,” party campaign manager, Robert Persaud said in correspondence to Merundoi.
Demerara Waves Online News ( www.demwaves.com ) was told that Merundoi now has to decide whether it would go ahead with the other presidential candidates- David Granger of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Khemraj Ramjattan of Alliance For Change (AFC).
Doubts still linger, Demerara Waves was told, about who would represent The United Force (TUF) because of internal party squabbles.
Prior to the PPPC’s early reluctance to participate in the debate, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had already pulled its endorsement of the event.
Well-placed sources said the chamber came under pressure since a release had been issued in which that business organisation had publicly identified with the event.
The PPPC’s campaign manager is already on record as saying that he would not allow the other candidates to gain popularity by standing next to Ramotar in a debate.
Persaud about two weeks ago had expressed dismay at what he had termed a premature news release by Merundoi without giving the PPPC and Ramotar sufficient time to consider the invitation.
Early signals about the PPPC’s highly anticipated non-participation in the debate came when Persaud recalled that the head of Merundoi, Margaret Lawrence had been a senior staffer at the now defunct Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) during the post-1992 general elections disturbances.
Thursday, 20 October 2011 09:53
Donald Ramotar, the presidential candidate for the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic’s (PPPC) has formally declined to participate in a presidential debate.
The debate is being organised by the non-governmental entity, Merundoi Incorporated.
“Please be advised that due to the late notice and the busy schedule of the Peoples Progressive Party Civic campaign, the PPPC’s presidential candidate, Donald Ramotar nor any of our senior leaders will be able to participate at this time,” party campaign manager, Robert Persaud said in correspondence to Merundoi.
Demerara Waves Online News ( www.demwaves.com ) was told that Merundoi now has to decide whether it would go ahead with the other presidential candidates- David Granger of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Khemraj Ramjattan of Alliance For Change (AFC).
Doubts still linger, Demerara Waves was told, about who would represent The United Force (TUF) because of internal party squabbles.
Prior to the PPPC’s early reluctance to participate in the debate, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) had already pulled its endorsement of the event.
Well-placed sources said the chamber came under pressure since a release had been issued in which that business organisation had publicly identified with the event.
The PPPC’s campaign manager is already on record as saying that he would not allow the other candidates to gain popularity by standing next to Ramotar in a debate.
Persaud about two weeks ago had expressed dismay at what he had termed a premature news release by Merundoi without giving the PPPC and Ramotar sufficient time to consider the invitation.
Early signals about the PPPC’s highly anticipated non-participation in the debate came when Persaud recalled that the head of Merundoi, Margaret Lawrence had been a senior staffer at the now defunct Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) during the post-1992 general elections disturbances.