…lays out conditions for reengagement
The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) – a member of the APNU Coalition – has withdrawn its support for the David Granger led Coalition owing to the actions of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).
In a letter to Granger, the WPA said that since the formation of APNU there have been an active sidelining of the smaller parties. That has caused the WPA to, on many occasions, air its grievances both internally and publicly.
Granger – who is also leader of the PNCR – was told that his Party’s behaviour leaves much to be desired since it continued to make major APNU decisions without proper consultations.
“In other words, we have had to live with PNC’s decisions being imposed on the rest of the APNU. Unfortunately, although the Coalition is now out of power, nothing has changed for the better within the APNU,” the letter stated.
WPA’s Secretary, Tacuma Ogunseye noted that throughout the life of the APNU, WPA, to its detriment, has done everything within its powers to ensure the survival and success of the APNU and by extension, the coalition. The accommodating positions it assumed on critical issues, which it would normally condemn, have exposed the party both internally, by party members and supporters and externally, by its detractors, to the worst kinds of criticisms imaginable.
He said that it has become very clear even to the WPA’s most hardline supporters of “accommodation” that in the face of recent developments, which culminated in the fiasco of the 2020 elections, it could no longer be business as usual within the APNU. Ogunseye reminded that the WPA’s contribution to APNU has been relatively formidable.
Though the Party has very limited material resources, it played a critical role in forwarding the principles of the Coalition as well as jointly crafting the APNU’s manifesto, campaigning and even defending the party during the electoral impasse. WPA noted that Coalition Politics is necessary for the survival of Guyana as a viable nation-state and in pursuit of that objective it has made the ultimate sacrifice of neglecting the replenishing of its party in deference to the unity and viability of the APNU.
“Unfortunately, leaders of the PNCR have not been similarly disposed. So, we continue to witness their bludgeoning of their APNU partners even at a critical time when togetherness is required,” the Party stated.
Ogunseye , in the letter of withdrawal to Granger, stated: “To our utter embarrassment, not for the first time the WPA was informed by the media that APNU had decided on its representatives for the next National Assembly. It was only after we sent a letter to you enquiring about the state of affairs that we were informed by the General Secretary of the PNCR (Amna Ally), that the Chairperson of the WPA is one of the selected persons. This, of course, was done without any engagement with WPA, thus denying the party an opportunity to determine who its representative should be. We view this as uncomradely, disrespectful, insulting, a gross disregard for principle and, therefore, unacceptable.”
The WPA requested that the names of its two nominees for Parliament and the Region Four Regional Democratic Council seats be removed from the APNU’s list.
“For the record, WPA notes the non-allocation of parliamentary seats to the other small parties. If this is indeed the case, the development has changed the electoral image of the APNU and in the process, has effectively destroyed the organization’s election franchise. The time has come when the WPA is forced to draw a line in the sand and say that enough is enough,” Ogunseye said.
Following the announcement of the Parliamentary list for the Coalition on Monday there have been criticisms from both the PNCR and smaller parties over the non-consultation by Granger. Granger, however, said he consulted and the best list was crafted.
To that, the WPA stated that there is no recognition of the rights of the partners to contribute to the decision-making process of the APNU. The party said that it is not for the Leader or the General Secretary of the PNCR to determine, unilaterally, the allocation of seats to each member party of the APNU for Parliament, RDC and NDC.
“Mr Granger, we are convinced that there will be no significant attitudinal changes within the APNU on the matters raised above, and those which must engage the attention of the organization and be corrected, if it is to regain the government at future elections. It is this conviction and the circumstances referenced that WPA feels it can no longer remain a member of the APNU,” WPA stated.
However, the Party said it is open for reconciliation but outlined a number of conditions. Among those conditions are the insistence that the WPA be immediately accorded the right to determine who its representative on the APNU list to the National Assembly should be; that principle be enshrined in the APNU Charter’ and the recommendations of the Corbin Report be implemented.
Should the second and third conditions be met within the next two months, the WPA would revisit its decision to leave.
