AFC’s demands not harmful to the coalition – President

… says there is no rift with APNU

Concerns abound that there might be a rift brewing between the Alliance For Change (AFC) faction and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) arm of the coalition government; however President David Granger indicated that this is not the case.
Suspicions of this kind arose after AFC issued an official statement calling for the reduction of the powers assigned to State Minister Joseph Harmon.

In response, President Granger had made it clear that the State Minister’s duties and responsibilities are not too burdensome and there is no need for them to be reduced.
During an interview on the programme ‘The Public Interest’, he posited that the problems the coalition are currently encountering should not be considered a form of resentment.
“I don’t think that what occurred is necessarily a sign of any form antagonism and I don’t think it’s harmful to the coalition,” Granger said.
He explained that each party within the coalition government would naturally have their own interests and it is healthy when they voice their concerns since it would help to improve the functioning of the government.
“I am not afraid of debate and discussion,” the President said, indicating that dialogue on similar issues should be encouraged:
“I am convinced that all six parties are committed to the coalition and they want to see the coalition have a successful tenure.”
Cabinet had met on April 12 to discuss the AFC’s demand for Harmon to be stripped of some of his powers, however no amicable position was arrived upon at the end of the meeting.
Reports indicate the matter will now be discussed at the level of both parties.
There is always the widespread perception that there is a power struggle within the coalition, with the PNC arm obviously being more dominant than AFC.
Prominent political commentators have already concluded that the AFC has lost its identity and that there is nothing but a bleak future in store for the Party.
Economist Ramon Gaskin had expressed that it appears the AFC has been shafted by the PNC-led Government.
He pointed out that while the Cummingsburg Accord promised a 40:60 split between the two parties, the AFC continues to be left behind. He highlighted, for example, that State boards are made up predominantly of PNC members.
Moreover he posited that, “everyone can see that the AFC lost some grounds in the immediate run-up to the General and Regional Elections in Regions Five and Six… the AFC continues to lose ground among its supporters. They can’t make it on their own now. They would not survive.”
Former Government minister Dr Henry Jeffrey also believes the AFC will be completely wiped out if they ever embark upon entering the political arena as a single entity again.
He believes both sides are well aware of the circumstances and therefore, the AFC will continue to do anything to stay in power while the APNU will remain in control.
“The coalition has placed much emphasis on staying in Government other than political relationships among themselves… They are set upon staying in Government, so the AFC will bend with the winds to just stay in Government, and the larger party will continue to rule,” Dr Jeffrey defined.