THE talk of a coalition between the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) to challenge the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the upcoming polls had generated much interest even before the ‘talks’ began.From reports and letters appearing in certain sections of the media, the sentiments conveyed seem to indicate that more were favourably disposed to the idea than those who held a different view.

What came out of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) first General Council meeting for the year held recently was quite interesting, moreso in light of the ongoing ‘secret talks’ between the AFC and APNU to form an alliance with the hope of defeating the PPP/C at the May 11 polls.
In light of the ongoing discussions, it was surprising that the PNCR wasted no time in making its position known of who it wants to lead, by going ahead and reappointing David Granger to head the party into the elections.
It is clear that by virtue of the appointment, unless there is a dramatic shift in tradition, the retired Brigadier automatically becomes the leader of APNU.
Undoubtedly, there is no second guessing of APNU’s position on who should lead an AFC/APNU coalition if the ‘secret talks’ happen to produce one, but this is just part of the issue at hand.

Undoubtedly, there is no second guessing of APNU’s position on who should lead an AFC/APNU coalition if the ‘secret talks’ happen to produce one, but this is just part of the issue at hand. The timing of the announcement is an inauspicious sign for those who are hoping and praying for the talks to fructify into a marriage since from all indications, it spells the death of the discussions even before the four weeks of exploring expires.

The timing of the announcement is an inauspicious sign for those who are hoping and praying for the talks to fructify into a marriage since from all indications, it spells the death of the discussions even before the four weeks of exploring expires.
The move to hold the talks was bewildering in first place as before it began, both parties strongly maintained that their leaders, Khemraj Ramjattan of AFC and David Granger of APNU, should lead the coalition if they succeed in forging an alliance.
The fight for the leadership post is understandable given that it can allow for the party that holds it to gobble-up traditional supporters of members of the coalition as well as decimating their political identity and core values while in pursuit of a common goal.
And this is something both APNU and AFC secretly want to do to each other, since at the end of the day, Granger’s interest is to build and expand the support base of the coalition, while Ramjattan has a similar vision for the AFC, but a different strategy, that is, promoting the party as an alternative for APNU and the PPP/C.
This aside, it would be extremely poor analysis to assume that the AFC and APNU, which combined secured 52 per cent of the votes at the 2011 General and Regional Elections, would be able to repeat the feat in 2015.
An unvarnished fact is that the core supporters of the AFC are persons who are disenchanted with the PNCR and the PPP/C. As such, a coalition with APNU by common sense is a step that will do more harm than good.
Any AFC/APNU coalition is likely to result in a huge chunk of AFC supporters withdrawing their support for the party since APNU is still seen as a shelter for the PNCR to hide from its sordid past, punctuated with misrule, human rights abuses, elections rigging and widespread poverty.
In addition, there is no guarantee that both parties will receive more support or maintain the support they receive in the 2011 General and Regional Elections in light of their abysmal performance in the 10th Parliament, notably the voting down of key legislations and projects. The latter by taking a scalpel approach to the National Budgets.
These obvious vindictive actions, allowing might to prevail over right, would have hurt their own supporters as much as it has hurt the country as a whole.
Taking these and other factors into consideration, it would not be surprising to learn that the announcement by the PNCR General Council on Granger was made deliberately during the ‘secret talks’ since it sees the ‘discussions’ as nothing more than an outmaneuvering exercise.