Opposition in disarray as AFC, APNU talks stuck in leadership standoff

With just a day left before their March 31 deadline to reach an agreement on partnering, the Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) remain deadlocked over the leadership of a potential united presidential ticket for Guyana’s upcoming General Elections in November this year.
On Friday, AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes revealed that the two sides have yet to reach a consensus on the presidential candidate, suggesting businessman Terrence Campbell as a possible nominee.

According to Hughes he has already indicated that he would step aside in favour of a third-party candidate who could unite the opposition.
“I personally am prepared to step aside from the presidential candidature in favour of a consensus third candidate who can unite the opposition in the interests of the country,” Hughes informed.
He was at the time speaking on the sidelines of a protest being held by the party in Georgetown.
Meanwhile, speaking at the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) weekly press conference, APNU Chairman and Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, indicated that his side does not see the party coming to a consensus by March 31, and he indicated that there is a possibility the talks will have to go beyond that date.

In January the two sides set March 31 as the deadline for negotiations on a partnership, after Hughes described those negotiations as being on life support.
According to Norton, an extension may be needed.
“There’s a saying that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,” Norton remarked. “The 31st March isn’t written in stone. We will continue to negotiate with an open mind, and hopefully we will get through with it by the 31st. If we do not, it does not follow that that ends everything, and that will be a decision of the two sides,” Norton said.
Norton also indicated that his side remains optimistic on how the negotiations would proceed, but things may be looking pessimistic.
“In every optimism there are specs of pessimism, and you just hope that optimism triumphs over pessimism,” Norton said.
According to Norton the option that the PNCR will go the elections alone remains under consideration.
“There are obviously people who think that [the party will do better alone] and there are people who don’t. We have to analyse and then arrive at the best conclusion in the interest of the people,” Norton stated.