The Alliance For Change (AFC) has announced that there is a possibility that the party may break away from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for this year’s Local Government Elections.
This announcement was made on Monday by AFC Leader Raphael Trotman during a press conference at the party’s head office, where several updates were provided to the media regarding its work.
Trotman said, “There is a strong opinion of body within the party that we should go alone.” However, in the same breath, he said that there was another view that the AFC should seek to enter a new accord.
AFC Leader Raphael Trotman
The party leader explained that the Cummingsburg Accord that was signed between the AFC and APNU in 2015 was just to facilitate the General Election and did not include local elections.
“We are currently assessing the views of the various party leaders here in Guyana and outside of Guyana, and we would have met with the APNU and other parties to get a sense…and make a decision well before the date is announced for Local Government Elections,” he added.
The AFC has, of recent, come under fire for the perceived submissive role it played when it joined forces with APNU. In mid-November 2017, the top leadership of the AFC had decided to revise its governing agreement with its coalition partner. This decision was taken after the AFC – the smaller of the two groups forming the Government – was accused of being coerced by its large partner.
Speaking about the discussions surrounding the review of this Accord, Trotman said that it was still on the party’s agenda and it has sought to get some other views to begin the process.
“We have, in fact, identified a team that will represent us in upcoming talks, because, like I said, the Accord has a lifespan of a minimum of three years and a maximum of five. And it was geared primarily towards national elections. It was very silent on Local Government Elections,” he explained.
The Cummingsburg Accord Review Committee (CARC) has eight members: Dr Vincent Adams, Dr Rohan Somar, Marlon Williams, David Patterson, Joel Edmond, Sherod Duncan and one representative each from the party’s Women for Change and Youth for Change arms.
The AFC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has mandated the party leadership to formally write to APNU with regard to the review and revision of the Cummingsburg Accord.
Trotman had committed to write to meet with APNU to initiate discussions with regard to the revision of the Accord, which was signed before the last General Election.
But several months have passed and Trotman is yet to write APNU. This was made clear by APNU Secretary Joseph Harmon, who said recently that to date, no correspondence was received.
This process must be completed by the third anniversary of the signing of the Accord, February 14, 2018.
There have been reports that the AFC was not too comfortable with the current Cummingsburg Accord which sets out how the two coalition partners would divide up the Ministries.
Under the current configuration of the Government, the AFC received the portfolios of the Prime Minister, Public Security, Public Infrastructure, and the Agriculture Ministries, among others.
Commenting on whether the coalition between the AFC and APNU was working well, Trotman noted that the Cummingsburg Accord pact was working well. The AFC leader declined to discuss the contrary aspects of the coalition’s mechanisms, but said the AFC saw areas that should be strengthened.
Trotman said despite repeated concerns, the AFC’s membership has been growing and the party would be relying on both new media and face-to-face community outreaches.
The AFC is also in the process of raising funds to assist with its run for Local Government Elections.
