Following a proposal from the Alliance for Change (AFC) for the establishment of a pro-democracy alliance against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) leader David Granger has revealed that the negotiations have been going forward.
When approached on Friday for a comment on the negotiations between AFC and his party, Granger said the prospects are “good.”
“The general secretaries have met, Mr. Joseph Harmon and Mr. (David) Patterson, and we will be discussing a draft agreement at our Shadow Cabinet meeting next Tuesday (January 13),” Granger said.
In early December, AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan stated that the AFC is prepared to lead a pro-democracy alliance of progressive forces, inclusive of the opposition coalition APNU, to remove the PPP/C government from office.
Ramjattan had also indicated that the “progressive forces” should comprise of civic groups, workers unions, and political forces, including even disaffected PPP leaders and members.
He had further emphasised that the AFC must lead this alliance.
The announcement signaled a major shift in the party’s position on an electoral pact. The AFC leader’s comments marks a departure from his previous statements in which he had expressed opposition to any coalition with APNU. Among other reasons, AFC members had cited a desire to keep the party’s identity and support base.
The AFC subsequently said that it would not release documentation that would form the template for negotiations on its proposed pro-democracy alliance if APNU did not sign a non-disclosure agreement.
It is unclear whether APNU signed any such confidentiality agreement before its recent talks with AFC. According to Granger, the general secretaries of both parties have met twice since the initial proposal was made by AFC.
Meanwhile, PPP general secretary Clement Rohee said last week that his party is waiting to see what comes out of the engagements between APNU and AFC.
“We don’t want to anticipate or speculate; let’s see what comes out of that process. We are building our own alliances; we have always done that prior to 1992 and we are proceeding full speed ahead in that respect,” Rohee said. He continued, “Those two parties have their own conkie to boil; let the conkie continue boiling and let’s see how tasty it will be to each of them.”
Many observers believe that an AFC and APNU coalition could claim office from the incumbent PPP/C, which lost the majority for the first time at the last general elections in 2011, although it retained the presidency.
