The A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition will not be releasing the entire Revised Cummingsburg Accord to the general public, says APNU General Secretary, Joseph Harmon.
This position was also communicated by AFC prime ministerial nominee, Khemraj Ramjattan, who said that essential elements of the Accord will be formally made public long before the end of the current month. Both men made these statements in separate interviews with Stabroek News yesterday.
In February of 2015, the original Cummingsburg Accord was made available to the public. Analysts say neither APNU nor the AFC would be keen to have to defend the stipulation in the revised accord that if it was returned to office PM Ramjattan would not be able to accede to the Presidency. This presidency would remain with APNU and it means if a new President had to be appointed, APNU+AFC would have to do the same thing that the PPP/C did in 1999 to enable Bharrat Jagdeo to become President. This step-down, step-up process had been condemned by several stakeholders in society in 1999. Stabroek News has been told this process is enshrined in the revised Cummingsburg Accord.
The non-release of the full revised agreement will likely raise questions about whether the coalition is really committed to transparency.
The Revised Cummingsburg Accord establishes the unified slate under which the parties will contest the March 2nd General and Regional Election.
According to Harmon, the coalition, as promised, will release the essential elements of the Accord, which he pointed out have already been alluded to publicly, albeit orally
Harmon iterated that the essential terms of the Accord include a provision that the prime minister will be selected by the AFC; the strengthening of the office of the Prime Minister, which office will continue to have charge over constitutional reform; a 30:70 split of all positions of authority, including seats in Parliament; and the distribution of ministries after consultation between the parties, as opposed to naming, up front, which ministry will be headed by a member of a specific party.
Under the previous Accord, the AFC was given the prime ministerial position, and 12 seats in Parliament. The 30:70 ratio is likely to eventuate in a decrease in this number.
These conditions are seen as a reflection of the belief that the party has lost support, particularly in light of its poor showing at the 2018 local government polls. The defection of an AFC member, Charrandass Persaud, resulting in the passage of a no-confidence vote against government in the House last year, is also believed to have influenced the negotiations.
Harmon had said that the Revised Cummingsburg Accord was so named as it retains some of the features of the old accord, while featuring changes which he said are informed by experiences with, and interpretations of the Constitution, as well as missteps experienced during the current term.
Harmon said that the other terms and details of the Accord outline administrative matters which deal with how the, Accord will be administered. Those elements, he explained, which he said includes terms and conditions, will remain between the parties of the Accord, that is, the APNU and the AFC.
Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, has criticised what he says is the secretive way in which the Accord was signed, and that it does not seem that the coalition, much unlike their approach in 2015, is keen in making the details of the Revised Accord, public.
Harmon, however, said there his party is not attempting to hide any mischief, and that in any case, Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has no moral authority to make such claims.
“He never explained to the Guyanese the conditions under which they will nominate a prime ministerial candidate, the process by which he arrived at the person who has to the chosen, by the central executives”, Harmon retorted.
“How did he, after all these months, suddenly come up with Brigadier (Mark) Phillips…ask him where is the paper work where he arrived at that position.”, Harmon said, challenging Jagdeo to also reveal the administrative workings and considerations of his party.
Meanwhile, Harmon said, “I am giving more than the paperwork. I am giving the essential elements of the agreement made”.
The “Revised Cummingsburg Accord” was signed at State House by President David Granger, who is Chairman of APNU and Public Securities Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who is the leader of the AFC, with APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon and AFC General Secretary David Patterson signing as witnesses to the agreement.
