‘Valentine Union’ still to birth neutral custodian … AFC\APNU leadership rejects each other
THE Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU), February 14, 2015, Cummingsburg Accord has been inked, but two weeks later the parties have still not identified and selected its Representative and Deputy of its candidates’ list.This was confirmed yesterday by General Secretaries, David Patterson and Joseph Harmon, who during telephone interviews with the Guyana Chronicle gave the assurance that both teams are still working assiduously with sub-committees established as part of the operationalising of the Cummingsburg Accord.
Former PNC Leader, Robert Corbin
The leader and deputy representative of the list however will not be chosen from either of the parties involved in the coalition, according to Patterson.
The AFC General Secretary told this publication that this provision for the representatives of the list be neutral, is embedded in the “Cummingsburg Accord,” which was inked following intense negotiations between the two opposition parties.
Under the Cummingsburg Accord, bringing together the two political opponents to contest the incumbent People’s Progressive Party (PPP), that top leadership post will not be coming from the APNU nor the AFC.
In fact, the two sides are yet to finalise their selection process in order to find consensus on what he termed, a “neutral” candidate for the position.
POWERS
Under the existing laws of Guyana, the Representative of the Candidates List is also entrusted with significant powers under legislation such as the Constitutional Amendment Act of 2007 — otherwise known as ‘Recall Legislation, the MP’s Sword of Damocles.
On December 3, 2008, then Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, had announced that Robert Corbin, the Representative of the List of Candidates for the People’s National Congress (PNC), officially notified him that James McAllister had been recalled.
Consequently, Ramkarran declared McAllister’s parliamentary seat vacant in accordance with Article 156(3) (c) of the Constitution the Constitutional Amendment Act of 2007.
The legislation enables the Representatives of parliamentary parties to direct the Speaker of the National Assembly to declare a seat vacant once a party expresses a loss of confidence in a member.
NEUTRAL
Patterson told the Guyana Chronicle that the two sides are still to finalise the criteria to be used on shortlisting individuals, but emphasised that the Representative will not be fielded from the AFC or APNU.
Asked for timelines, Patterson said that while the two parties will be looking to have its official launch next Wednesday, an announcement detailing specifics such as the Representative of the List will not be made until March 14.
AFC General Secretary, David Patterson
According to Patterson, come Nomination Day the two political forces will submit a single list to the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
Nominations Day is 32 days before elections, which means that the list of each party looking to contest the 2015 General and Regional Elections will have to be submitted on April 10, 2015.
Harmon, who also spoke to the Guyana Chronicle, addressed the fact that a great deal of the work currently engaged in by the two teams is focused on the operationalising of the provisions in the Cummingsburg Accord.
He suggested that this operationalising also encompasses the dual campaign strategy for the two political opposition forces, ahead of next week’s launch.
PRE-ELECTION COALITION
In January last, Opposition Leader Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, announced that APNU and the AFC had entered into formal talks first hinted at by AFC, Leader Khemraj Ramjattan.
Ramjattan during that party’s conference in December last had announced that it would enter into a pre-electoral alliance with APNU, should the AFC be allowed to lead.
Following weeks of talks, the details of the Cummingsburg Accord were made public when the leadership of the two parties made the Valentine’s Day announcement that they had come to an agreement for a pre-election coalition.
Going into the coalition negotiation with APNU, the AFC controlled 21 per cent of the combined Opposition seats in Parliament, but came out with a guarantee of 40 per cent of the Cabinet, and at least 12 parliamentary seats, should they succeed at the May 11, 2015 General and Regional polls.
APNU held 79 per cent of the Opposition seats in the House going into the negotiation.
Evicted from Parliament, PNC James McAllister
APNU consists of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR); the Working People’s Alliance (WPA); the National Front Alliance (NFA); the Guyana Action Party (GAP); and the Justice For All Party (JFAP) coming together to control a total of 26 seats, while the AFC controlled seven in the 10th Parliament.
The AFC has also secured, through the negotiations, the post of prime ministerial candidate for its front-runner, Moses Nagamootoo, along with two vice-presidential posts.