Alliance for Change (AFC) leader Khemraj Ramjattan believes that his party is doing a fantastic job as part of the governing APNU+AFC coalition.
Asked on Friday at a news conference at his party’s Kitty Headquarters if he is satisfied with the amount of influence his party has at the level of the government, he said “absolutely.”
“This government is a united cohesive government. Even if it were a one-party government, you would’ve had people arguing the cases for certain things within the Cabinet and within the National Assembly. Knowing very well that the coalition arrangement can ensure that you have even more difference, even more disagreements we feel that we are doing a real fantastic job of it thus far,” he said.
He further noted that his party has not reneged on promises it made during the 2015 elections campaign to keep the government honest and he cited issues such as the controversial Sussex Street bond deal, while saying that the party is working to ensure that the public interest is enhanced. “We have not violated any promise to the country. We are doing our best to find out what were the wrongs,” he said.
The AFC became a part of the ruling coalition after it signed the Cummings-burg Accord on February 14, 2015.
Since the May 11 elections, questions have been raised about the strength of the AFC position in the coalition and the party itself has previously expressed concerns about the distribution of power at the level of Cabinet.
Following a leadership retreat, in April, the AFC had said that the concentration of various powers in Minister of State Joseph Harmon was the key reason for difficulties that have flared up around the government.
The AFC had noted that the powers of the office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency and the effective Head of the Presidential Secretariat are vested in Harmon. It argued that the responsibilities of each of the portfolios are substantial and of vital importance to the smooth operations of the government and would, therefore, benefit from separate appointments.
“The Alliance for Change has mandated its leadership in Cabinet to have these issues raised and addressed as a matter of national importance,” a statement from the party had said.
This statement was followed by President David Granger defending Harmon’s portfolio and AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes offering his resignation.
On Friday, Ramjattan said the Hughes remains party chair though he is presently on “leave.”
