The deadlock among opposition parties as to who should be the next Speaker continues.
APNU’s David Granger and AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan met today to continue efforts at agreeing on a single candidate but failed to reach agreement.
AFC is steadfast in its support of Moses Nagamootoo while APNU has proposed Deborah Backer and Cammie Ramsaroop.
The continuing deadlock between the two parties and public feuding has caused some consternation particularly among the supporters of the two groups who had been hoping that the new parliamentary configuration wrought by the November 28 general elections would have led to swift and amicable settlements.
Political observers also say that the division between the two opposition groups works in favour of the ruling party which could then use the opportunity to argue that its candidate for Speaker Ralph Ramkarran has the broadest appeal across the three groups.
According to Ramjattan, “we are still in gridlock,” when asked about the status of the negotiations for the parliamentary post.
He told Stabroek News, “we maintained that [Moses] Nagamootoo is best suited and is our choice for Speaker and we will not move from that.” He confirmed that the situation prior to the meeting had remained the same by the end of the meeting.
“We will work further with APNU because the PPP/C wants Ralph Ramkarran,” he said. Ramjattan added that he did not know of any other meeting fixed to discuss the matter of Speaker of the National Assembly.
While Ramjattan was reluctant to disclose where the meeting was kept, he said it took place at a “convenient location” to both parties.
Speaking to Stabroek News, Vice Chairman of APNU Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine said that a meeting of the Leadership of the APNU on Thursday afternoon, which saw issues for the next engagement with the Government being discussed, ended well.
Political observers also say that the continuing deadlock doesn’t bode well for the prospects of APNU and the AFC working out a comprehensive plan for reforms and to keep the government accountable in the next Parliament. The observers say the present situation raises the prospect that the ruling party might be able to do deals with one of the two sides to get its vital business passed.
Some observers see the demand for Nagamootoo to be Speaker as hinged on the commitments the AFC may have made to him prior to his decision to join their campaign. Other observers see the AFC’s demand as a reflection of the view that their seven seats represent the real change from the November 28 general elections and without them APNU would have remained in a minority position.
APNU and the AFC control 33 seats in the House while the PPP/C has 32.
