AFC to review relations with APNU at upcoming conference

Aradical reform of the relations between ruling coalition partners, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is likely, with an independent review of its affairs set for the upcoming AFC National Conference.

This review could see the smaller political party making more demands of APNU, as what occurred following an AFC retreat earlier this year.

AFC General Secretary David Patterson, during a news conference on Friday, disclosed that an assessment of the dynamics of the two parties was among the concerns to be discussed at the AFC National Conference, which will be held before the new year.

“I cannot dictate what the discussions will be, but I can guarantee you that someone will raise the issue of the coalition; the successes or the things which they feel the coalition should do; they would raise the question of the AFC’s shortfalls, if any, what achievements are; they would raise the issues of every Minister’s portfolio in Government,” Patterson explained.

Among the other issues to be discussed are the AFC’s role and progress in Government and the parties’ fulfilment of the joint manifesto.

“Each and every issue with leadership is put under scrutiny,” the General Secretary emphasised.

APNU and the AFC joined forces with the signing of the historic Cummingsburg Accord (Valentine’s Day Accord) on February 14 last year with unyielding dedication to change the politics in Guyana, with the country’s first-ever six-party coalition.

However, critics believe that the Administration has fallen short on one too many of its promises and has already forecast nothing but a bleak future, particularly for the AFC group of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led coalition.

Several political commentators shared the view that the AFC was shafted by APNU, with many of its inputs into Government policies being overlooked or rejected.

Opposition Members of Parliament have constantly pointed out that most of the AFC Ministers had little or no authority within Government and they were consistently being sidelined by APNU members.

It was also pointed out that AFC’s Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan has been kicked aside by APNU’s Mayor and Town Clerk on several pertinent matters at City Hall, including the controversial parking meter contract.

Additionally, the AFC’s nominees to the Procurement Commission, Dr Anand Goolsarran and Christopher Ram have both been rejected by APNU in the Public Accounts Committee.

AFC Ministers, like Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, have had their powers significantly reduced, with the Prime Minister only having oversight over the Guyana Chronicle newspaper and the National Communications Network (NCN) – a role which was previously held by Information and Press Liaison Kwame McCoy, while a major portion of Ramjattan’s portfolio was handed over to PNC’s Winston Felix.

Nevertheless, according to the AFC General Secretary, since the forming of the coalition, the AFC and APNU have been able to iron out several issues.

He went on to underscore that in order to further strengthen the coalition, there needed to be increased and clearer communication between the lower levels of the two parties.

Meanwhile, this year’s biennial conference will seek to elect office bearers for the new two-year term.

Presently, Ramjattan is the Leader of the AFC and Nagamootoo is the Chairman (ag), following the recent resignation of Chairman Nigel Hughes.

The AFC is yet to decide definitively when the conference will be held, since there are major upcoming events it is trying to avoid a clash with.

These include the presentation of Budget 2017 in the National Assembly, followed by the lengthy budget debates, as well as the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Congress in December.

“We are looking for an opening to have it done,” Patterson said, noting that the party will have to work within those parameters.