I am not surprised that an advertisement appeared in the newspapers alluding to ongoing talks of a merger between the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance For Change (AFC).

Over time, I have noted a lot of signs that the parties have a culture of collaboration which included their staged walk-out of the National Assembly on several occasions when they walked out together and they shared press conferences under the guise of the shared opposition. 

I noted also that whenever Raphael Trotman is forced to say something against the PNC, his comments are watered down and said with the best of caution as if to ensure that his statements are not carried in a way that is intended to bruise Robert Corbin and the PNCR. However, the opposite is clearly obvious when he speaks against the PPP/C.

The hierarchy of the AFC is such that the leaders bring various connections. Sheila Holder brings the Burnhamite connection and Raphael Trotman brings the Hoyte connection and between the two of them, they never criticise the PNCR harshly, which speaks volumes. However, Khemraj Ramjattan, who brings the PPP connection, spares no bones in his disparagement of the party which he prospered under.

Having seen all these indications, I am convinced that a merger is indeed afoot and it is only a matter of time before we see the formalities being carried out to effect the changes.

The only thing that separates the AFC and the PNC is power. Raphael Trotman could not get the position of power he wanted while in the PNC; but as he now heads the AFC, he is in an ideal position to negotiate the merger deal. And this will definitely work to his advantage.
Emile Sullivan