ONE week after the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) announced their coalition, definitive decisions on the new alliance’s symbol and name are yet to be announced.

For now, at least, the alliance seems comfortable with each party’s respective symbol: a human palm for APNU and a yellow, green and white key for the AFC being placed together in one logo.

Until the alliance launches its media elections campaign on March 4, it will be referred to as the APNU-AFC alliance.
Speaking to reporters at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Hadfield Street, Georgetown, one of AFC’s founding members, Mr Raphael Trotman, said the feedback thus far has been approving of the symbols of the two parties being next to each other, even though voters will be required to put their X next to either the palm or the key on Elections Day.

Trotman said suggestions are pouring in on the matter, but he contended that it is not a “big issue” as, at the appropriate time, that bridge will be crossed.

In the past five years, there have been two coalition Governments in the Caribbean — the People’s Partnership of Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, and Team Unity in St Kitts and Nevis a few days ago. In both cases, the parties of the coalition chose a name for the grouping; but while the APNU-AFC alliance has not yet decided on a name, Trotman said the issue is under consideration.

“We are comfortable, based on the feedback we have (received) from particularly the young people, they are quite comfortable with what they have, (and) they know what it is they have to do (vote).
According to him, supporters do not want the two parties (APNU and AFC) to be apart, as they do not want to choose one over the other, since they want to see the back of the PPP/C.

Accordingly, he is of the view that a name change would not make a difference, as “…we want them to vote and recognise who they are voting for”.

However, he said, all efforts will be made to protect the AFC’s identity.

NO PLAYING AROUND
“Coalitions in all parts of the world have inherent difficulties, and the fight is to maintain their identity; and as I said before, we are not going to play around our identity. I can say that for the AFC.”

APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon also expressed similar sentiments, pointing out that this has been provided for in the Cummingsburg Accord signed by APNU Chairman, retired Brigadier David Granger, and AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan on February 14.

“These are things we considered in the negotiations. People want to see the symbols of their party”, he said, pointing to the experience of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in APNU.

“But while they will be maintaining their individual identity, they will be going to the electorate with a single slate, a single list of candidates,” he said.

Trotman maintained that the AFC and APNU keeping their respective names in the coalition is not a contradiction to the common goal of the alliance, as the AFC will not compromise on its identity.

“It is an electoral alliance to win Government and start a process of change. We have been working together for the past three years in the National Assembly, and all we are doing is responding to the people of Guyana under one umbrella,” he said, while acknowledging that there are “small idiosyncratic differences”.

The two parties have also been making separate statements since announcement of the alliance, and according to Trotman, this will be addressed so as to ensure their February 14 ‘marriage’ works.

“After the wedding, families retreat. I have been to many weddings where there were fights between families over food, over decoration, and (over) comments said and not said. That is the way it goes, that is the way we are going, but we are committed to getting these done on behalf of the people of Guyana, and we will get (them) done. Statements are going to be made and we are dealing with them on both sides,” Trotman declared.

He also conceded that there has been some reservation on the AFC giving up its third party status, but the people are getting around to understanding the party’s position. He noted that failure will not be tolerated.

“I told a Berbice meeting yesterday (Thursday); I said to the people there that Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, the first liner, the warrior that he is, if the AFC members mess up in a coalition Government, we will be moving a no-confidence motion against him,” Trotman said. He noted that the party will not compromise its “high standards”.

(By Tajeram Mohabir)