Incremental progress is being made in talks on the proposed pro-democracy alliance between the AFC, APNU and other partners for the upcoming May 11 general elections.
“We made incremental progress,” General-Secretary of the AFC David Patterson told Stabroek News yesterday. He said that he could not comment further and shortly, a position will be unveiled. APNU’s lead negotiator in the talks Carl Greenidge, when contacted, said that he could not comment on the talks and when appropriate, the General-Secretaries of both groupings will make a joint statement.
Talks between the AFC and APNU have been ongoing over the past week as the two parties, with members of civil society attempt to forge a pro-democracy alliance to unseat the PPP/C at upcoming general elections.
Last week, Patterson had told Stabroek News that talks are focused on a plan of action for what needs to be done and it is also being envisioned that the different partners will be active in their areas of strength. He had said that progress was being made with discussions expected to be wrapped up within two weeks.
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.
APNU has identified a negotiating team and talks have begun with the AFC while the AFC has also approached other potential partners including members of civil society and individuals. Patterson had said that should the alliance come to fruition, they will be contesting the election as a single bloc.
He said that everyone – the parties, civil society, and individuals- have their area of expertise and it is envisioned that each would operate in areas in which they can best serve the alliance.
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.
