who asked not to be named

micevan1l6

Five senior members of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) who are vying to be the Presidential candidate in an historic race, are expected to present their case in as little as three weeks before the party’s upper hierarchy.Donald RamotarGail TeixeiraRalph RamkarranSenior officials of the party, who asked not to be named, disclosed yesterday that the five will appear before the Executive Committee by mid-February in a face-off, another first.However, it was unclear yesterday how soon after that an announcement will be made on likely single candidate.The five persons who have publicly announced their interest as being the Presidential candidate are Presidential Adviser, Gail Teixeira; Moses Nagamootoo; Speaker of the House, Ralph Ramkarran; Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee and PPP General Secretary, Donald Ramotar.On Friday, Teixeira who once served as Minister of Health, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, and Minister of Home Affairs, announced her candidacy for this year’s general elections.“These discussions are expected to be intensified with a view to coming to a conclusion where the candidate would be selected as soon as possible,” the party said.The issue of selecting a Presidential candidate has been a thorny one for the PPP. The most vociferous of the candidates has been Speaker of the House Ramkarran, who has been pressing for there to be a secret ballot to select the candidate when the matter reaches the 35-member Central Committee.Clement RoheeMoses NagamootooThe PPP General Secretary, Ramotar, has said the process for selecting the candidate has not been finalised.President Bharrat Jagdeo is not in favour of a secret ballot, saying that this could be “dangerous as candidate hopefuls could promise persons things in order to get their votes.”Ramkarran and other members of the Central Committee have taken offence at Jagdeo’s statement.Using Facebook, Ramkarran asked whether he was being accused of potential dishonesty and if those on the Central Committee were being accused of being potential bribe takers.Teixeira is the only woman from the PPP that has stepped into the race. She currently serves as Presidential Advisor on governance.