AFC seen getting lift from PPP/C, PNCR woes

Tarron Khemraj

With the ruling PPP/C under pressure on various fronts and disarray in the PNCR ranks following its turbulent congress, the AFC’s recent attempts to keep government accountable has given the party a boost but expanding long-term support of the electorate remains a work in progress.

Over the past few weeks, the AFC has pushed strongly for a no-confidence vote against the Donald Ramotar administration citing what it described as the illegal spending of billions of dollars by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh. Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman has since referred Singh to the House’s Committee of Privileges over the matter. The AFC needs the support of the opposition coalition APNU for the no-confidence motion to be passed but APNU has thus far made no commitment and signals from coalition representatives suggest that it does not view the motion favourably.

The National Assembly heads for a three-month recess from next week and from all indications, there will be no sitting of the House before August 10 when the recess officially begins thus the no-confidence motion is unlikely to be laid until October when sittings resume. If the motion was passed by the combined opposition, it would trigger general elections