GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has called on the two major parties in the coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to put aside their differences and unite ahead of the regional and general elections later this year.
WPA co-leader, Dr David Hinds told reporters that time is of the essence.
“As the PPP’s (ruling People’s Progressive Party) vulnerability begins to manifest itself, the WPA reiterates its belief that a grand coalition of opposition parties stands the best chance of unseating the ruling cabal in a free and fair election,” Hinds said.
He said a coalition of the willing, guided by a united purpose and intent, would no doubt energize the opposition’s base. He emphasized the importance of the two sides reaching a consensus.
“It is against this background that WPA urges our sister parties to iron out their apparent differences quickly. While negotiations over critical issues are normal in coalition building, WPA calls for consensus rather than confrontation. History will not be kind to us if we allow short-term differences to blind us to long-term implications,” said the WPA co-leader.
Earlier this week, the leaders of the two main parties in the opposition coalition met to resolve their differences about the presidential candidate for the upcoming elections.
“I think the talks were useful, very useful. Hope is alive and kicking, and we look forward to another engagement,” said the leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes, who the AFC has already put forward as the presidential candidate.
The leader of the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, told reporters after the meeting, “Basically, what we have agreed is that the AFC will put its position in writing, and then we will meet to address it.
“I can tell you we haven’t closed the door on the coalition,” Norton added. Earlier, the AFC said it would accept a 60-40 split at all levels of government if the coalition forms the next government.
In 2015, the APNU and AFC entered into a coalition based on an agreement known as the Cummingsburg Accord. The coalition campaigned on that Accord and won the elections that year. However, they were defeated in the controversial 2020 elections.
When the Accord expired, the AFC opted not to renew it while maintaining its seats in the National Assembly as a coalition. Political scientist Hinds said he remains optimistic that the parties will reach a consensus.
“As far as the APNU side is concerned, it must be taken into consideration that the APNU side includes the PNC, other parties within the APNU, and for now, the WPA that is outside of the APNU, and so, therefore, you are talking about one party being given 40 percent of the spoils while several other parties are being given 60 percent.
“I think that is a consideration that the parties at the table must consider when arriving at the formula,” said Hinds, adding that the WPA is prepared to support Norton or Hughes for the position.
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