Confusion hits latest `Third Force’ camp By Neil Marks DR. RUPERT ROOPNARAINE CONFUSION has surfaced in the camp of the second so-called `Third Force’ which emerged in newspaper advertisements last week in a touted bid to challenge the traditional dominance of the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) and the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). The Guyana Third Force (GTF) materialised in full page advertisements in the other two daily newspapers, billing itself as a way forward for Guyana and naming the leaders of three small political parties among those at its helm. But Working People’s Alliance (WPA) stalwart, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, one of those named in the advertisement, yesterday said he was “rather really taken aback” by the ad and knows “nothing” about a website set up bearing the name GTF, or where the financing for any of this came from. The three other members of the group, Mr. Paul Hardy of the Guyana Action Party (GAP), Mr. Ravi Dev of the Rise and Organise Guyana (ROAR), and Mr. Peter Ramsaroop (Vision Guyana) seem not to have any clear name for the group or how far it has gone in terms of organisation. Roopnaraine told the Guyana Chronicle he thought the placing of the advertisement was “premature” as no decision was made by the four members of the group of what the content should be. He said the group had had three meetings, apart from one scheduled for noon yesterday and no structure of “decision making and financing” was decided on. “These things are loose right now,” he said. He was named in the ad as one of those “already on board” with the GTF, but he told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday “some (in the GTF) would like to think we have launched, but I’m uncomfortable with that notion.” MR. PETER RAMSAROOP He said he later found out that the advertisement was placed because of a “breakdown in communication.” Asked who paid for the advertisement, Roopnaraine said he was not sure, but believes it might have been Ramsaroop. In response, Ramsaroop said “the group” paid for the advertisement and the content was agreed to by “the group.” He said he would be “surprised” if any member of the group would suggest otherwise. Roopnaraine spoke of only three meetings apart from the one yesterday, but Ramsaroop said “there are multiple meetings taking place.” As for the website, Ramsaroop said it was agreed to by “the group” and that the core principles and values outlined on the website were agreed to as well. Mr. Hardy said he does not want to recognise the group as being the “third force” but “the third force platform.” Asked who financed the advertisement, he said he was not sure. HOUSE WITHOUT WALLS As far as Hardy is concerned the “third force” was just “a concept”, like a house without any walls or divisions. “We haven’t decided where the kitchen will go or anything like that,” he said. He insisted that the grouping was still deciding on who could come on board, adding that even those now in could choose to “opt out.” “We have not defined our principles as yet,” he said. However, confronted with the irony that a press release had listed a six point “contract”, he quickly added that these principles were being developed. MR. RAVI DEV Hardy seemed not in the know about any of the public relations work of the group. He said he had not seen the October 8, 2005 press release issued as a “GTF Newswire” although he is listed as one of two contact persons, the other being Ramsaroop. Asked if he knew of the website advertised on Saturday, he responded: “Let me now just click on it.” “We don’t have a third force, but it could eventually turn into a third force,” he offered. Mr. Dev said he knew about the advertisement, the press release and the website. Asked what name he had for the group, he pointedly replied without hesitation: “the Third Force.” Roopnaraine said he was interested in being part of a coalition that was broad-based and that could see the formation of a national front government after the 2006 general elections. Meanwhile, asked about Ms. Sheila Holder’s involvement in the other touted `Third Force’, the Alliance for Change (AFC) while yet being a Member of Parliament for the GAP/WPA, Roopnaraine said it was his party’s conviction that persons are elected to the National Assembly based on their party’s list and should therefore vacate their seat if they choose to move to another party. However, he declined comment on whether his party has asked or would ask Holder to resign as a Member of Parliament representing GAP/WPA. He said Holder had not been found wanting in her responsibilities as a Parliamentarian for GAP/WPA. The AFC, first touted as the `Third Force’ in Guyanese politics in the run-up to the 2006 general elections, has scheduled its launched for October 29, 2005. Leading figures in the AFC are expelled PPP/Civic member Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, ex-PNCR member Mr. Raphael Trotman, and Holder. Owner of the Channel 28 (VCT) TV station Tony Vieira has also been named on AFC programmes aired on his station as a leading figure with Ramjattan and Trotman in their `third force’. Ramjattan last week said his group has nothing to do with the new `third force’.