Granger accuses Ramjattan of being ‘out of touch with reality’
…Ramjattan describes formation of APNU as ‘an attempt to turn vinegar into wine’
PRESIDENTIAL Candidate of the recently formed joint opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Mr. David Granger has accused Alliance for Change (AFC) Presidential Candidate Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan of having “misread the public will” since there is no desire on the part of the electorate to have another one-party Government.
Granger was speaking in response to Ramjattan’s critical statements of APNU and its chances at the upcoming elections later this year.
“They want a coalition, they want a government that is representative of their interests. APNU is in response to the public demand for shared governance. We have embraced a new model in Guyana and that will be the model of the future. Mr. Ramjattan’s rhetoric belongs to the 1960s and 1970s,” said Granger.
On the talk that the PNCR and other parties are desperate, hence the coalition, Granger said, “It is not a matter of desperation; it is a matter of aspiration, the politics of change…[People] do not want to see one party rule anymore. We welcome all parties into the partnership and we are keeping the door open for the AFC and for [others].”
Further, Granger said Ramjattan’s comments demonstrate that he is “out of touch with reality”. Ramjattan had said that the APNU coalition will not make a difference in the political climate here nor will it attract electoral support at the upcoming elections.
He had vowed that the AFC would never be a part of the coalition and said it was “an attempt to turn vinegar into wine,” as the PNCR had outlived its purpose.
“Many members of the AFC have approached me personally indicating their willingness to come on board the new partnership. [Ramjattan fears that] he will lose support to this new partnership, which represents what we feel is the public will. The partnership represents determination by the Guyanese people not to have anymore one party rule,” Granger said.
“We are quite confident that the members of the PNCR know what we are going into,” he said, adding that there will be a number of PNCR meetings around the country to ensure that the party membership is aware of the ramifications of the partnership.
