By the end of this month, the AFC will reveal under what “construct” the party will be contesting the next general elections even as discussions continue with the opposition coalition APNU on a pro-democracy alliance.
“Prospects are always good,” the AFC’s General-Secretary David Patterson told Stabroek News yesterday and said that he agreed with an assessment by APNU leader David Granger, who, in revealing that talks have been going forward with the AFC last week, had said that prospects are “good.”
Patterson told Stabroek News that before the end of the month, the AFC will come to a definitive position on under what construct, the party will be going into the next elections. Discussions are ongoing and they remain optimistic, he said.
As it related to APNU signing the non-disclosure agreement as demanded by the AFC before talks could proceed, Patterson said that the coalition has indicated that they have no issue with it. Nevertheless, he has not yet received a signed document from APNU but discussions are ongoing.
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 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 signalled a major shift in the party’s position on an electoral pact. The AFC leader’s comments mark 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.
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.
After suspending the National Assembly on November 10 last year, President Donald Ramotar last month announced that he will call general elections this year but he has not yet named a date for the polls even though he has said that he will “announce further steps” in this direction early this year.
Ramotar has been unable to mobilise support for the suspension and his government has been increasingly criticised over the move. He has come under fire from political parties, civil society and other groupings, with the UK and Organisation of American States, among others, calling on him to end the suspension of parliament.
