Georgetown: Former President Bharrat Jagdeo could become Guyana’s next Opposition Leader and Chief Parliamentary Spokesperson for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the 11th Parliament, if he accepts a mandate from the Party to serve at this level following the 2015 General and Regional Elections.
Jagdeo is seen as the most suitable candidate from a lineup of about five to lead the Party at this historical conjuncture for its upcoming stint in the Opposition after it was narrowly defeated by the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change coalition on May 11 at the polls. The PPP/C has filed an elections petition in the High Court to question the declaration of the election result by the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission.
PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee said that the Party had embarked on what he described as “wide ranging discussions” and consultations across the country and within its membership. “We have had robust and healthy discussions as result of those consultations at the level of the leadership of the party because now that we are in the Opposition, it behooves us to put these appointments to rest,” Rohee remarked.
“On the question of the Opposition Leader, we have basically settled on that…it is a consensus or I should say near consensus decision on the person to be the leader of the Opposition,” Rohee advised. Asked specifically about Jagdeo’s selection, Rohee held out that a final decision has not been arrived at but Jagdeo appeared to be a clear front runner for the post. “Mr Jagdeo has been considered. Mr Jagdeo is one of the strong contenders, but I will prefer us to await us taking up our seats in the National Assembly in order for us to reveal what we have come up with…,” a discreet Rohee stated.
On 8 August 1999, Janet Jagan announced that she was resigning as President for health reasons, and that Jagdeo would be her successor. Because the Prime Minister is the President’s legal successor, Jagdeo took office as Prime Minister on 9 August, so that he would be positioned to succeed Jagan. He was then sworn in as President on 11 August. At age 35, he was one of the youngest Heads of State in the world.
Jagdeo was re-elected for another five-year term on 28 August 2006, with the PPP/C garnering 54.6 per cent of the votes. It expanded its majority, by two, to 36 seats in the 65-member Parliament. He was sworn in for another term on 2 September. At the PPP/C’s 29th Congress, Jagdeo received the highest number of votes (777) in the election to the Party’s Central Committee held on August 2, 2008. He was then elected to the PPP/C Executive Committee on August 12, 2008.
In late 2011, his term of office officially came to an end as a result of the term limit amendment to the Constitution, piloted by his Government, and signed into law by himself, which created a two-term limit for anyone elected President after the year 2000. He was succeeded by the PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Donald Ramotar who was elected President after the November 28, 2011 General Elections. Under the Constitution, President Jagdeo’s term officially ended on December 3, 2011 after President-Elect Ramotar took the Presidential Oath of Office.
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