Ramjattan to challenge Nagamootoo for PM post at upcoming national conference

– says he is “up to the task” if elected by supporters

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has confirmed that he will be challenging his colleague for the post of Prime Minister at the Alliance For Change (AFC) upcoming national conference.
According to the Public Security Minister, if elected, he is “up to the task”.
At a press briefing on Friday, Ramjattan, who is the present Chairman of the party, explained that the selection of leadership in the AFC is based on democratic principles which are nothing new to political parties locally and internationally.
“I have already indicated my interest. There are others I am certain who will indicate their interests. And so it is going to be interesting and it is good to have instead of political parties, the regular rivalry between leaders that you would have in the democracies…so yes, we will be looking forward for it and that will be decided there at the national conference.”
Minister Ramjattan noted that the electoral process at the upcoming conference will be the deciding factor as to who be running as the prime ministerial candidate at the next general and regional elections.
“The prime ministerial candidate is generally made at the national conference. And I rather suspect that our next national conference there will be a recommendation as to who will be the PM. The conference will be held sometime in mid-June.”
Earlier in January last, President Granger was endorsed by his party, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), to run for a second term as President.
In fact, the PNC/R – the larger partner in five-party A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) – officially threw its support behind its leader via a letter from General Secretary Amna Ally.
In accordance with the 2015 ‘deal’ in the form of a Cummingsburg Accord between the two parties, AFC will have the prime ministerial position while the presidential post goes to APNU.