– Roopnaraine makes way for Nagamootoo as PM Candidate

THE Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has reportedly continued their coalition talks last week with focus on forming a broader partnership to compete against the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government in any upcoming elections.

Senior members of both parties have undertaken the task of brokering a deal that would see key members of their respective groupings retaining key positions within the coalition as they work out the logistics of selling the new team

to their supporters.

This newspaper understands that Opposition Leader David Granger and Oscar Clarke were leading the talks along with Khemraj Ramjattan and Raphael Trotman.
Reports reaching this newspaper also indicate that the two sides have been unsuccessful thus far in arriving at a consensus as to who should lead the new coalition. In fact, while the APNU and PNCR is pushing for Granger to lead the coalition, the AFC is insisting that Trotman be the candidate.
The senior PNCR, APNU, and AFC members are also unable to arrive at a point of agreement as to how to proceed with their respective manifestos for the elections. There has been an instance by APNU to re-work the country’s financial architecture and foreign affairs image.

On the other hand, the AFC is insisting that the current financial architecture is good and workable but there needs to a sweeping reform of how the government is set up to work.
Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that APNU’s Vice Chairman Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has endorsed Moses Nagamootoo as the possible Prime Ministerial Candidate if they were to move ahead with the coalition this year.
But APNU is exhibiting restraint and caution as far as placing Nagamootoo anywhere close to executive power within the new arrangement.
Sources close to the discussions have told this newspaper that the PNCR too said it would not support Nagamootoo for the prime ministerial candidacy given his “thirst” for power and the high levels of unpredictability that hovers over his personality.
The two main Opposition parties are also working on a formula to sell the idea to the supporters of the AFC who have basically rejected and resisted any attempt to form a coalition.
It is understood that given the image of the PNCR and APNU, the AFC supporters believe that the party would suffer a major blow if the coalition fails to win government.

“The talks are intense but there is a lot of distrust amongst the two groups. There is also unwillingness to compromise as to who would do what. But the talks are moving albeit at snail’s pace,” the source explained.
The source also reported that neither of the Opposition groups is confident that they could defeat the ruling party at an election unless they combine their electoral campaigning efforts.
“They understand the PPP is still the most favoured and popular party. They have acknowledged that the party also has some of the best candidates that are highly competitive. Talks also surround them attempting to lure past members of the PPP,” the source maintained.

The two parties have also had discussions about including former PPP Executive and Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran as a possible lead candidate given the fact that he has been paying his dues to their cause ever since leaving the party.
As the talks are ongoing, uneasiness is growing within the ranks of both parties as there is a view that other hard working members could be sidelined overlooked or bypassed.

Dr Faith Harding’s name came up as a possible and the most viable female candidate for the new coalition but APNU’s Chairman David Granger would offer no support even after his own team members endorsed the idea of engaging her.
The first person to hint that the two Opposition parties would work on forming a coalition is former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo who said that they are one and the same.

Jagdeo had warned Guyanese that there was no difference between the two as they both were power-hungry and would try any means necessary to access executive power.
A commitment was given for there to be dialogue between the two until January next year.

(Staff reporter)