Leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, said the coalition talks among the Joint Political Opposition Parties (JOPP) are not progressing as quickly as they should.
Dr Rupert Roopnaraine
Speaking to Guyana Times International on Tuesday, April 5th, Dr Roopnaraine said the group is advancing several issues as a team in a show of unity. “For one reason or the other, things are not going as quickly as we would like them to go. We have all agreed that the pace is partly sluggish,” he pointed out. One of these issues is in relation to the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), and Dr Roopnaraine explained that it is a concern that a significant number of ID cards are still to be collected.
“We are discussing among ourselves how best we can coordinate our own activities to assist that process to ensure that the uncollected ID cards are picked up,” he added. As the claims and objection period near, the JOPP will also have its plate full as it seeks to encourage unregistered Guyanese to get onboard.
Meanwhile, the WPA leader has revealed that a working group to advise the JOPP has been established, and its mandate was handed down at a meeting late Tuesday. The group will make recommendations to the coalition on ways to advance the agenda of JOPP. The first set of recommendations is expected within a week.
The fledging coalition has also been meeting with more interest groups in an effort to build a stronger alliance. Dr Roopnaraine stated that the latest group to be engaged was the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), which currently holds observer status and is known to be a supporter of the main opposition, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).
The JOPP had been tight-lipped on its progress, but has now also taken a decision to update the media on its developments, since, according to Dr Roopnaraine, “the state of unknowns is hampering the building of the coalition.”
This view was expressed by PNCR Leader Robert Corbin at the party’s last press briefing, although he held out that the JOPP was progressing and that a statement outlining further details would be released shortly.
“I believe the coalition has a direction, [but] it is moving all too slowly for everyone’s nerves. And, of course, as other political developments continue to unfold, the most recent being the choice of Mr Ramotar as the PPP’s presidential candidate, it would seem we have little time to lose,” Dr. Roopnaraine, who described himself as an optimist, stated.
JOPP’s plan is to create a Guyana in which “citizens can live productive lives free from the ravages of poverty; are secure in their homes and in their communities; and are able to enjoy the benefits of political, social, and cultural liberation.” And to achieve this, it is proposing a National Unity party to contest the 2011 elections.
The participating political parties are convinced that a positive transformation of Guyana can only be achieved by an inclusive coalition built around political parties, organised labour, farmers’ organisations, community-based organisations, faith-based organisations, civil society bodies, and patriotic citizens. The JOPP comprises the PNCR, Guyana Action Party (GAP), National Front Alliance (NFA) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). Peter Ramsaroop’s Guyana People’s Partnership (GPP) made its case before the JOPP recently, but it is unclear whether that entity is formally involved with the JOPP.
Comments are closed.