WHILE both, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) have maintained that their coalition is strong and intact, AFC Executive and Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin has said that at certain levels, especially local government, the coalition is not functioning as well as the central level.

Gaskin was at the time responding to questions on the strength of the three-year-old coalition government. “The coalition is intact after three years in government. In many countries coalitions don’t last that long, so I think it is to our credit that we have been able to make this thing work. I don’t see any major fractures within the coalition. I think it is no secret that at certain levels especially at the Local Government level, the coalition is not functioning as well as the central level.”

He was quick to state, however, that apart from the aforementioned the coalition partners have “a fairly good working relationship”. Gaskin said too, that the coalition was birthed out of the 2015 National Elections which saw the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord, an agreement between the parties which direct the operation of the coalition.

“There is no such agreement that governs the local government elections and the results of those elections and how we form a coalition within those local government structures. That is something that would have to be agreed upon before we enter into or contest the

elections as a coalition,” he disclosed. On the question of joint financing, Gaskin said the matter was discussed and agreed upon for the 2015 national elections and “I see no reason why it should not be on the agenda for discussions for the local government elections.”
Last weekend, President David Granger, leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC) assured his party’s membership that there is no fear in working together with coalition partners.

“We are not afraid of coalition…we are all grownups and we are all concerned about how Guyana is governed and we have made sacrifices to ensure Guyana is well governed,” said Granger.

In his address to the second General Council at the PNC headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia last weekend, President Granger outlined his party’s contribution to coalition politics since the 1960s. He reminded party supporters that the General Council is made up of members who represent all 10 administrative regions of the country. It is those members who determine how the party will be administered.

“We are proud of what we achieved as a coalition,” declared the head-of-state who said, “We must not be afraid of working together- we have been called again to lead in 2015, again as a coalition, and we have to resume the great work interrupted by the PPP [People’s Progressive Party].”

Additionally, the President noted that since taking office as a coalition government in May 2015, the APNU + AFC has restored much decency to Guyana. He highlighted salary increases, the creation of new towns, the holding of Local Government Elections (LGE) after an 18 year hiatus to name a few.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan dismissed all negativity surrounding the strength of the coalition as “potent propaganda.” He told reporters that his party has been active across the country but has chosen not to publicise its moves, because the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) strategises to prevent the party from getting in touch with its support base.

Ramjattan said too that while in opposition, he and fellow colleagues had more time on their hands devoted to community outreaches but that does not mean, the party has fallen asleep in that regard. “We [those in government] don’t have that much time but our second tier leadership has been doing a lot of work. We have been keeping the contact…we have been doing our work. I have realised that every time I go to Region Six and I publicise it, the PPP puts its machinery in gear and you don’t get to talk to the amount of people you want to talk to you,” he stated, while noting that the opposition party is a “master of the art” in that regard.

Ramjattan said his party members including the leader, Raphael Trotman have been making arrangements to meet with villagers, talk with them and solve their many problems. “It takes experienced politicians to do that. Sometimes necessity demands that we talk privately,” said the minister of public security who maintained that his party’s support base is intact.

“I am absolutely confident that our support base in all the regions is intact and probably growing because they have seen us delivering,” said Ramjattan who pointed to several developmental works across the country.