A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) General Secretary Joseph Harmon yesterday suggested that a “miscommunication” caused an agreement with coalition partner Alliance For Change (AFC) to fall apart during the election of the Vice Chair of the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
“It appears that on the floor the agreement was not honoured…it was in fact a requirement that the councillors on the ground be advised about this agreement. My understanding is that there might have been some breakdown in communication but that is a matter that is being investigated,” Harmon told a press conference yesterday.
He explained that it was for APNU to inform APNU candidates and for the AFC to inform AFC candidates of the nature of the agreement and revealed that Aubrey Norton, Executive member of the PNCR, which is the main constituent of the two-party APNU, was on the ground in Region Four to do just that.
Asked to explain the origin of the agreement and its scope, including how many regions it covers, Harmon said it was to be operationalised in regions Four and Seven.
In Region Seven, where APNU+AFC holds eight of the 15 seats, the agreement was easily operationalized but in Region Four, where the party holds 20 of the 35 seats, it was not.
Chairman Daniel Seeram was easily elected but then along with 14 other APNU candidates he supported PNCR’s Samuel Sandy over the AFC nominee at the meeting, which was held at the Bladen Hall School on the East Coast.
The fallout from this “miscommunication” has so far led to the AFC’s David Patterson tendering his resignation from the post of party General Secretary.
There have also been reports that he expressed his intention to resign as a parliamentarian.
However, according to Harmon, this has not reached the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.
“I, as Leader of the Opposition, have from Patterson no communication of an intention to resign. He continues to function as MP. As recent as yesterday he was in a meeting where he contributed significantly. This morning I received advice from him on a matter I asked him to look at. He remains a valuable member of our parliamentary team,” he explained.
He went on to note that it is likely the AFC will address Patterson’s intentions following its planned National Council meeting on Sunday.
APNU, meanwhile, continues to investigate what caused the miscommunication. Harmon added that at the conclusion of the investigation, former President David Granger will reach out to Ramjattan to reach a solution.
Asked if his party has considered simply giving up the Vice Chair post, Harmon said that matter will be decided on by the two party leaders.
“[What] I want to make it very clear is that in political life sometimes there are bumps, ups, and downs but the important thing is that the parties are better together and subscribe to certain basic principles that see the need for uniting… to eschew one-party rule. We believe that Inclusive governance is important to the development of Guyana,” he said.
Notably, Harmon did not acknowledge that a similar agreement existed in Region 10, where the coalition holds 15 of the 18 seats.
Stabroek News had previously reported that in Region 10, AFC nominee for Vice Chair Norris King declined the nomination after being informed by the PNCR that it would not support him.
