“It is just a ploy to rebrand the discredited PNCR” – PPP/C
Four opposition political parties have joined forces to contest this year’s national and regional elections. This is a decision that will, for the first time, see the main opposition party, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), not having its individual mark being put to the fore at national elections.
The other parties that are part of the coalition are the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), The Guyana Action Party (GAP), and the National Front Alliance (NFA).
However, in a brief comment, executive member of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Robert Persaud, stated that the party (PPP/C) is by no means threatened by the announcement of a coalition in the opposition camp.
He said, “It is just a ploy to rebrand the discredited PNCR. The so-called other parties have no support base and are merely election-season paper parties. Singularly or collectively, they are not a threat to the PPP/ C.”
David Granger
The announcement of the coalition was made on Saturday by PNCR presidential candidate David Granger, who will most likely lead that coalition. The announcement of the coalition was made at the conclusion of the PNCR’s first General Council Meeting for 2011, held at Congress Place, Sophia.
In a report to the General Council on the progress of the joint opposition political parties (JOPP), Granger stated, “The party has championed the cause for shared governance.” The presidential hopeful added that the other parties have committed themselves to forming that coalition, and he highlighted how same is going to work for Guyana.
According to a release from the PNCR, the coalition would be based on five principles – a consensus presidential candidate, a single manifesto, a single campaign, a symbol to identify the coalition, and a name for the coalition.
Granger, however, assured supporters and fellow party members that the PNCR would not be losing its identity, as all of the principles and policies which form the core of the party will be followed.
Robert Corbin
He added that, despite coming to a consensus on coalition, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the Guyana People’s Partnership (GPP) are still welcome to join the opposition bandwagon. The AFC has, on numerous occasions, stated that it would not join forces with the PNCR. On the other hand, the GPP, a party that was once integrally involved in the JOPP process, dropped out of the coalition process recently.
Meanwhile, PNCR leader Robert Corbin has stated that it has always been the vision of the party to have shared governance. Since 2002, Corbin stated, his party has been emphasising the need for national cohesion and reconciliation.
Further, the party leader expressed confidence in Granger, stating that he is capable of giving leadership.
“Our membership must appreciate that our goal as a party is to create a better Guyana, to live in peace and harmony, and share in the fruits of our culture and our economy. We must move to create an electoral alliance, because the deep- seated problems here require us to work together for national development,” the PNCR leader said.
