A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) says it is favourably disposed to itself and the Alliance For Change (AFC) holding the speakership of the National Assembly on a rotating basis with APNU holding the position in the first term.
And the smaller opposition party is viewing this development as APNU’s endorsement of their candidate for Speaker Moses Nagamootoo.
Reading from a prepared statement at APNU’s press conference yesterday, youth activist Annette Ferguson said that should APNU and the AFC fail to find agreement on the candidates proposed thus far, the APNU has suggested that a consensus candidate from outside the ranks of the parties be considered.
According to Ferguson, the APNU/AFC talks cover a wide range of issues beyond that of the speakership. “There is substantial agreement and close convergence of positions between the two parties on several other issues, including the strengthening of the various parliamentary bodies, as well as on the economic and governance issues facing the nation. Discussions have been forthright but always conducted in an atmosphere of cordiality and mutual respect,” Ferguson said.
She said that the party will continue to discuss the issue of the speakership as part of a larger menu of issues where the two parties – APNU and AFC – can reach agreement. “APNU has shown, and will continue to show, a willingness to support the AFC to attain the Chairmanship of important parliamentary committees and the Chairmanship of RDCs (where the AFC has a plurality) and of committees of the RDCs,” Ferguson said.
Speaking at the press conference, APNU Vice-Chairman Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine said that there is nothing in the Constitution that precludes the two parties rotating the position of Speaker of the National Assembly.
In a comment to the Stabroek News yesterday, Executive Member of the AFC Cathy Hughes said that APNU’s statement on the rotation of the speakership is an endorsement of their candidate Nagamootoo. But she said that the party would have to discuss the issue which APNU raised.
She said it would be hard to imagine that APNU would be willing to be a part of a rotational arrangement with a candidate that did not have that party’s approval.
“We have been focusing on what we think is best for Guyana,” she said of the AFC and its engagement with APNU over the Speaker. She said that at the beginning of talks between the two parties, APNU did not have a problem with Nagamootoo as a potential Speaker.
“Our position is if there are [ongoing] negotiations in good faith, one party should not decide who is not suitable. It is disappointing that APNU said that our candidate is not suitable,” said Hughes. She pointed out that the AFC would have accepted APNU’s candidate for the post of Speaker. “We would have accepted with mutual respect Deborah Backer,” Hughes said.
“The fact that APNU wants to rotate the Speaker means that Moses is not the issue. The issue of who gets the speakership first is petty,” said Hughes.
No further date for a meeting between APNU and the AFC or with all of the three parties has been announced.
APNU and the AFC have had acrimonious exchanges on who should be Speaker. The PPP/C has proposed that former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran be the candidate. With their control of Parliament sources say that once a deal is struck it is likely that the opposition will opt for both the speaker and deputy speaker positions.
