THE notion of ‘secret talks’ between A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), as proposed by the latter, could possibly facilitate talks on leadership positions. That is if the two Parties finally decide on heading into the upcoming elections as one. 

The foregoing were sentiments expressed by General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr Clement Rohee, at a press conference held at Freedom House yesterday.
His comments come on the heels of an acknowledgment by APNU General Secretary, Joseph Harmon, that the current political environment in Guyana could be a possible reason for APNU acquiescing to AFC’s proposal.

INDECISIVE
The proposal to have ‘secret talks’ follows months of indecision on the part of the AFC on whether or not to join forces with APNU.
On the question of a possible alliance, the AFC has been flip-flopping with its positions on the matter.
In mid-December, APNU confirmed the commencement of talks with the AFC with regard to a possible coalition, and disclosed that a proposal for the two Parties to form a coalition to contest upcoming regional and general elections was still to be finalised.
Prior to this disclosure, AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, in an invited comment, told the Guyana Chronicle, “We will be dealing with it shortly; I don’t want to make any further comments,” referring to the coalition proposal.
Against this backdrop, though, the same AFC leader, before Granger’s disclosure, had told the Guyana Times that “it is nothing of the sort,” which was taken to mean that the two parties had not yet discussed the matter or sought to engage each other in discussions.
In another twist to the plot, after Granger’s disclosure, Ramjattan, through a Facebook post in the group, ‘Alliance For Change,’ had stressed that AFC, as a single party, poses more of a threat to the ruling PPP than if they were to form a coalition.
The uncertainty in position and the constant shift in their declarations come at a time when President Donald Ramotar has announced that general elections are likely to be held in the first quarter of this new year.
The last general and regional elections were held in November 2011, and APNU secured 26 seats in the National Assembly; the AFC seven; and the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), with the single largest bloc of votes, 32 of the 65 seats in the House.

UNDER CONSIDERATION
Meanwhile, APNU, according to Harmon, is still to decide on whether or not it will accept AFC’s proposal.
APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon has told the Guyana Chronicle that the non-disclosure agreement has been with the coalition since last month, but a review of the proposed document has not yet been completed.
“We saw the document around Christmastime, but we have not been able to study it as yet. Our structure requires consultation at the Shadow Cabinet level as well as at the leadership level,” he said.
Asked about the possible issues that would form part of the agenda for talks, Harmon disclosed that inclusionary democracy and the question of establishing a government of national unity after the elections are two such areas.
He, however, said his coalition would be dealing with the matter soon.
The AFC’s position, as articulated over the weekend, comes on the heels of statements made by APNU Leader, Brigadier (Rtd.) David Granger, in which he disclosed that there have been no substantial discussions with the AFC to date.