…APNU refuses to accept AFC’s Ramjattan as PM candidate
The Alliance For Change (AFC) has hinted that it could part ways with its coalition partner; the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), should its choice of the prime ministerial candidate be rejected for the upcoming 2020 polls.
Both parties, which form the current administration, were in talks over the revision of the Cummingsburg Accord, so that they can contest the March 2020 elections again as a coalition. The Accord, which binds the two parties, states that the presidential candidate post is to be filled by the APNU while the coalition’s PM candidate would be from the AFC.
However, Treasurer of the AFC, Dominic Gaskin stated at a press conference on Thursday that these negotiations have been stalled, as the parties have since failed to reach a consensus on the Prime Ministerial candidacy.
While they would have moved to select their leader Khemraj Ramjattan for the post during a recent party congress, the APNU has been reticent, showing no signs of support for this decision.
Commenting on the matter, Gaskin indicated, “The AFC wishes to confirm reports that the negotiations of a revised Cummingsburg Accord between the two parties has stalled due to a lack of consensus on this issue. The AFC finds it unacceptable that the matter of the presidential and prime ministerial candidates has been repeatedly deferred.”
Gaskin, who has been part of the negotiations, said the deferral was unclear and his party was not in agreement with reasons provided by its coalition partner. However, the idea of replacing Ramjattan is not up for debate.
He hinted that their selection of the Prime Ministerial candidate is their condition for remaining in the coalition ahead of the approaching general and regional elections.
“This was a decision taken by the highest decision making forum of our party and it is not up for debate so it is almost a prerequisite for us entering into a coalition…We don’t accept that any other entity or any other party shall tell us or dictate to us who we should choose as our Prime Ministerial candidate,” the former Business Minister clarified.
He added, “There were a number of reasons given why this matter needed to be deferred, none of which we accept or agree with…It wasn’t very clear with us on what basis the matter is kept being deferred.”
Meanwhile, the minority coalition partner has also informed the APNU that until this stalemate is resolved, no other decision can be made on the Accord.
“Our position is that we cannot have any further discussions on a revised Cummingsburg Accord until there is consensus on the positions of the presidential and prime ministerial candidates.”
The APNU has thrown its support behind caretaker President David Granger to return as its Presidential Candidate for a second term.
Asked whether they would be willing to make a switch, Vice-Chair of the AFC, Cathy Hughes affirmed, “We’ve had a set process that chose a candidate. On what basis would we begin to reexamine our process that we hold important to the operations of the AFC? We don’t have a basis to change it. Why would we?”
The AFC will be hosting its national executive committee meeting on November 2, 2019. There, executives are hoping to forge a definite position on the party’s “mode of participation” in the upcoming national and regional elections amid these outcomes.
Coalition politics
On the contrary, they renewed commitment towards coalition politics here in Guyana.
Though it has not been discussed, Gaskin stated that their form of association shows that they’re willing to join with any other party.
“We’re the Alliance for Change. I think we’ve always said that we’re here to form alliances for the benefit of Guyana; so we have no inherent opposition to forming alliances with anyone”.
Hughes also commented, “The Alliance for Change is willing to work with anyone committed to the principles of constitutional reform and the creation of a more equitable Guyana where everyone has an equal opportunity.”
