THE consultation process has started in relation to the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) contesting local government elections, President David Granger has said.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event Wednesday at State House, the Head of State explained to media operatives that “we are still consulting with our partners to ensure that we come up with a pathway forward.”

The Head of State noted that in 2015 when the coalition government was formed, it was quite a historic and remarkable time for the nation.

He further added that all six parties – the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the Alliance For Change (AFC), the Working People’s Alliance (WPA),the Justice For All Party (JFAP), the Guyana Action Party (GAP), and the National Front Alliance (NFA) “are committed to coalition politics”.

President Granger stated that the administration is strongly committed to ensuring the delivery of what is in the best interest of the electorate. He noted that the modalities are to be worked out.

The President said he did receive a letter from the AFC on the matter of contesting the local government elections, and discussions are currently ongoing internally.

AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan, on April 4, 2018, told reporters that a letter was sent to the Head of State to contest the LGE jointly. At the last municipal elections, APNU captured both positions of mayor and deputy mayor, a change from previous years when the AFC councilors had received positions. Ramjattan noted that a number of issues would have to be ironed out “preferably, it will be in relation to candidacies, candidates and a number of other things”, if the parties go to the local polls together. (DPI)