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Jagdeo is influential in the PPP – Rohee

NOVEMBER 12, 2014 | BY  | FILED UNDER NEWS 

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo is still influential within the ruling People’s Progressive Party.

Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo

As he hosted the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) weekly press conference on Monday, the Party’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee confirmed this.
Rohee was also asked to confirm statements to the effect that the PPP is divided into two groups – “Jagdeoites” and “Jaganites” meaning that some Party members hold on to teachings of PPP founder and former President of Guyana, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, while some have adopted the policies and tactics of Jagdeo.
The General Secretary responded saying that such an opinion is “unscientific” and that only people who don’t understand the PPP would make such utterances.
However, when confronted with the fact that it was said by a former long-serving member of the PPP, Rohee chose not to give further responses.
He further stressed that there is no division in the PPP.
But when questioned about the influence of Jagdeo on the Party’s decision-making organs, Rohee responded, “He is influential….He is influential”
The PPP Central Committee is made up of 35 members who were elected through congress. There are also five others referred to as candidate members, those are usually first timers and are not voted in.
One month after congress, the Central committee meets and elects a 15-member executive committee. It also appoints the General Secretary of the Party who is essentially the Party’s leader.
The executive committee is the body that more or less runs the Party’s affairs. That body meets once a week while the

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee

PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee

central committee meets once every three months which amounts to four times a year.
Meanwhile, in an invited comment, former executive member of the PPP Moses Nagamootoo said, that Jagdeo has for a long time has had a hold on many PPP members.
He said that Jagdeo appointed most of the Ministers and in his opinion, has had a negative influence on them.
Nagamootoo said that Rohee, who is supposed to be a real decision-maker in the PPP based on his appointment as General Secretary, is not as independent as he should be.
The long time politician said that Jagdeo controls a gang of eight in the executive committee and “whoever controls the eight controls the Party.”
It was Nagamootoo who spoke about the Jagan/ Jagdeo division in the Party.
He said that had it been up to the late founder of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, then the likes of Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, would have been reined in over the recent revelations made public in the now infamous audio recording between himself and a Kaieteur News journalist.
He said that the party is no longer controlled by those loyal to Dr. Jagan’s teachings, but by individuals who now hold to the policies and tactics of the Former President Bharrat Jagdeo. Nagamootoo labeled them Jagdeoites as against Jaganites.
The emails that were exchanged between Jagdeo, Nandlall and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) boss Khurshid Sattaur which revealed a plot to destroy Kaieteur News, suggested strongly that Jagdeo is still very influential at the highest levels.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

This was the Gang of 8 in 2003.

 

The gang of eight
Dear Editor,
I refer to a letter captioned 'Coalition government is the only answer' by Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.) (3.1.03).
Time and again I have read letters from this contributor, including this one, where mention was made of a 'Gang of 8'. Despite repeated calls from some of your readers and notably Dr Frederick Kissoon for him to name this 'Gang of 8' he brazenly refers to, I am yet to see him do so.
I find it strange that despite this your newspaper, which should be editing letters for clarity of content, CONTINUES to publish this mysterious labeling of a group of senior officials by Joey Jagan. By continuing to publish these letters I can only assume that Stabroek News knows what the writer is talking about. If that is the case then I would appreciate if you will put an end to the speculation and guessing of the reading public by telling us about this 'Gang of 8'.
Yours faithfully,
Danny Rampersaud 

Editor's note:
We sent a copy of this letter to Dr Jagan and received the following response:
"In response to your request for journalistic truth of information the following constitutes the Gang of 8 in Freedom House:
1) Dr Roger Luncheon (leader, 2) 

Mr Donald Ramotar, 3)

 Mr Feroze Mohamed, 4)

 Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, 5)

 Mr Robert Persaud, 6) 

Mr Komal Chand, 7)

 Ms Gail Teixeira, 8) 

Mr Kellawan Lall."

FM
Originally Posted by KishanB:

This was the Gang of 8 in 2003.

 

The gang of eight
Dear Editor,
I refer to a letter captioned 'Coalition government is the only answer' by Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.) (3.1.03).
Time and again I have read letters from this contributor, including this one, where mention was made of a 'Gang of 8'. Despite repeated calls from some of your readers and notably Dr Frederick Kissoon for him to name this 'Gang of 8' he brazenly refers to, I am yet to see him do so.
I find it strange that despite this your newspaper, which should be editing letters for clarity of content, CONTINUES to publish this mysterious labeling of a group of senior officials by Joey Jagan. By continuing to publish these letters I can only assume that Stabroek News knows what the writer is talking about. If that is the case then I would appreciate if you will put an end to the speculation and guessing of the reading public by telling us about this 'Gang of 8'.
Yours faithfully,
Danny Rampersaud 

Editor's note:
We sent a copy of this letter to Dr Jagan and received the following response:
"In response to your request for journalistic truth of information the following constitutes the Gang of 8 in Freedom House:
1) Dr Roger Luncheon (leader, 2) 

Mr Donald Ramotar, 3)

 Mr Feroze Mohamed, 4)

 Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, 5)

 Mr Robert Persaud, 6) 

Mr Komal Chand, 7)

 Ms Gail Teixeira, 8) 

Mr Kellawan Lall."

The gang in 2014 was:

 

1.  Dr Roger Luncheon (leader),

2) Mr Donald Ramotar

3) Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, 

4) Ms Gail Teixeira

5) Mr. Irfaan Ali

6) Mr. Clement Rohee

7) Mr. Frank Anothony

8) Mr Bheri Ramsarran

 

 

NOTICE - Robert Persaud is on his way out.

FM

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