AFC, APNU advance coalition talks

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has approached the Alliance For Change (AFC) to form a broad coalition, but a response from the small party is still pending.

The proposal was renewed during a meeting held last week between the two Opposition parties.

This was confirmed by Opposition Leader David Granger on Friday during his weekly press conference at his Hadfield Street Office.

“The matter was raised… and I would say the ball is now in the AFC’s court,” Granger told reporters, noting that the AFC has not given any clear indication whether it will buy into the proposal.

But earlier this week, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan denied that such discussions were held. According to him, there are no plans in the pipeline to have the two Opposition parties merged.

When contacted by Guyana Times International, Ramjattan yelled “It is nothing of the sort!” before disconnecting the call. A second attempt to clarify his statement, the hostile political leader said, “Tell (newspaper name) to haul its *ss.”

He was alluding to an article carried in a local newspaper under the headline, “APNU/AFC in advanced coalition talks — Roopnarine makes way for Nagamootoo as MP Candidate.”

Greater chance

Critics say they have a greater chance of winning the elections as a coalition, but failure to do so can result in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) returning with a majority in the National Assembly.

The People’s National Congress (PNC) which forms part of APNU has not won an election in 22 years. After ruling the country for 28 years, the PNC suffered a major defeat in the 1992 General Elections.

But even with the PNCR joining with the Guyana Action Party (GAP), the National Front Alliance (NFA), the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the Justice for All Party (JFA) in 2011 to form APNU, it was still unable to defeat the PPP/C.

The coalition has 26 seats in the National Assembly.

On the flip side, the AFC has never won an election. Since it was formed in 2005, the AFC has only managed to win 10.3 per cent of the votes, gaining a mere seven of the 65 seats in the National Assembly.

Individually, the Opposition parties are powerless in the National Assembly, but as a combined Opposition, it has proven to be a force to reckon with.

With the AFC pushing to have the No-Confidence Motion debated and pass in the National Assembly, it is critical for the Opposition to form an alliance.

Many challenges

Since the 2011 General Elections, there have been many changes; changes that can negatively impact all of the political parties during the next General Elections; hence, their decisions during this period are critical.

Regions Five (Mahaica-Betbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have experienced a sharp decline in their populations by 16,969 persons.

According to Guyana Population and Housing Census 2012 Preliminary Report, the regions’ population fell from 176,123 persons in 2002 to 159,154 in 2012.

Regions Five and Six form part of the coastland regions, which also include Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Collectively, the six regions have a population of 666,261 persons when the last census was conducted on September 15, 2012 while the overall population was recorded at 747,884. Regions Five and Six are PPP/C strongholds.

Additionally, the advent of a majority Opposition in the National Assembly has resulted in major protestations from all sections of society when key issues were being dealt with.

The joint Opposition have been greatly criticised for the cuts effected to the 2012, 2013 and 2014 budgets, which have negatively affected key developmental projects, including the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, the Specialty Hospital and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project.

But this is just a tip of the iceberg for APNU. The leadership of the partnership is battling to keep the party’s spirit alive in one of its stronghold, Linden, Region 10.

Since mid-year, the mining town has been plagued with a major division since the leadership moved to appoint Sandra Adams as the party’s Regional Coordinator.

This appointment was opposed by Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon and the region’s APNU representative in the National Assembly Vanessa Kissoon.