…according to political observers
THE Joint Opposition Political Parties (JOPP) coalition talks have reached crisis proportion reportedly over inflated egos and “super mockery” of coalition politics, observers say.
“They (JOPP representatives) are making a mockery of coalition politics because most of the parties involved have no constituencies. Apart from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), none of the others can stake claim on a constituency,” the political observer argued.
The observer went on to question, “…Who are the supporters of the National Front Alliance (NFA), Guyana Action Party (GAP) and Working People’s Alliance (WPA)? They are all either dead or non-existent.”
PNCR Presidential Candidate David Granger’s imposition on the JOPP has given rise to major differences resulting in Peter Ramsaroop’s from the Guyana People’s Partnership Party exiting the JOPP talks a few weeks ago.
Sources say he was hoping to be the consensus candidate for the joint opposition and none of the other parties appeared to be in support of that. They were concerned about what he was bringing to the table as a candidate with an unknown constituency. Ramsaroop might have ruptured the relationship with his contention that the PNCR could not be a big-shot over him because they never won an election in Guyana.
The AFC has been bidding to be the major partner in a pre-election coalition, but the attempts have been rebuffed by the much older PNCR, which is determined not to play second fiddle to other opposition groups in an alliance, according to the political observer.
Granger had said he would continue talks with the other opposition parties, but the PNCR’s support-base needed to be taken into account. “I look forward to continuing the talks with the other opposition parties but I think they recognize the strength of the PNCR,” he said.
Observers noted that the PPP/C has never indicated any interest in an alliance with the AFC, and it clearly fears being an electoral bridesmaid to the PNCR.
It should be noted that Raphael Trotman is a former senior PNCR member and parliamentarian who defected to form his own party; while Khemraj Ramjattan is a former senior member of the PPP.
Earlier this year, Trotman accused PNCR Leader Robert Corbin of being in secret talks with President Bharrat Jagdeo on a shared governance agreement for the 2011 elections.
Trotman flatly declared then that the AFC was not discussing an alliance with the PNCR, but Corbin said the two parties have had several meetings, discussions and consultations on the issue.
