Weekly Report - 7 April 2011 (WR-11-14)

GUYANA | PPPC candidate. Guyana's ruling People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC) has named party secretary Donald Ramotar as its presidential candidate ahead of the August general election. Ramotar, 60, who is the first PPPC candidate not to be directly selected by party founder Cheddi Jagan's family clan, is now poised to face main opposition candidate, David Granger (65) of the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR), who was also picked via an unprecedented party primary in February [WR-11-09]. Even though Ramotar's selection is regarded as historic, his appointment was not a surprise, given that he represents the PPPC's old guard, having served as general party secretary since 1997 when he succeeded Jagan in the post following his death. While four other candidates had sought the nomination, three dropped out of the race before the 4 April vote; the fourth, Moses Nagamootoo, failed to attend the 2 April party convention and was declared ineligible to run. As a result, the unopposed Ramotar was declared winner by the PPPC's central committee.

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