THE possibility of a merger between the main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), and the Alliance for Change (AFC), has rattled supporters of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which constitutes the largest block of the Coalition.These were the sentiments of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Clement Rohee, during the party’s weekly press conference, held yesterday at Freedom House, Robb Street.

Rohee stressed that the issue has caused concern, given the impending general and regional elections and the need for political stability.
He said, “The PPP notes with deep interest the constant internal political wrangling taking place within the PNC…compounding the situation is the recent announcement by the maximum leader of the PNC to do away with the utilisation of primaries as a basis for determining the Presidential Candidate of the PNC.
“This is coupled with the agreement to enter into secret talks with the AFC to hammer out a ‘consensus programme’ and to select a ‘consensus candidate’, thus excluding the membership of the Party at the various levels.”

MERGER’S POSSIBILITY CONFIRMED
The possibility of an APNU/AFC merger could be determined by the “confidential” talks between the two parties, according to APNU’s General Secretary, Mr. Joseph Harmon.
“A merger could be determined by the conversation we will have. There is a possibility there. I think the Guyanese people will want to see any arrangement that puts the PPP out of office,” he told the Guyana Chronicle in a prior interview, via telephone.
Harmon stressed that moving forward, in the interest of the Guyanese people, is the primary consideration of APNU.
“We have to look at it optimistically and see what is best for the Guyanese people,” he said.
His comments come even as he reiterated that the coalition is still to sign on to AFC’s proposal for “confidential” talks – a proposal that has been in its possession since December, 2014.

PNRC SUPPORTERS FEARFUL
All considered, the PPP General Secretary stated that PNCR “faithful” are fearful of the “horse trading” that could come out of such a merger.
“(They) are fearful that in a horse trading and bargaining, process between the APNU and the AFC, the PNC could very well cede the Presidential Candidate and key positions to outsiders (who have made no contribution to the party),” he said.
Rohee added that his party has received information that the problem with this is that the PNC, which constitutes the largest representation of APNU, will see party stalwarts sidelined.
“Inevitably, many party stalwarts have indicated that there is a growing sense of alienation, disillusionment and demoralisation among the membership and key activists and supporters of the PNC, which could prove harmful to the political fortunes of the PNC/APNU at the forthcoming general and regional elections,” he concluded.

COMMENTS QUESTIONED
Meanwhile, Harmon, when contacted by this newspaper, questioned the grounds for the PPP General Secretary’s comments.
“I don’t know where he (Rohee) is getting his information from,” said Harmon, who is APNU’s General Secretary as well as a PNC Executive Member.
He stressed that the APNU is ready to go into the upcoming general and regional elections with a united front.
The announcement of a date is expected to be made soon.