…plans major confab for January 26

THE Alliance For Change (AFC) has asserted that it is in not in a weakened state at the coalition’s negotiating table, nor is it unprepared for a possible election following the no-confidence vote.

Furthermore, Public Security Minister and AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan said that the party has planned its first National Executive Committee meeting for 2019 on January 26, where certain agenda items will be discussed.

“The AFC reaffirms that the coalition remains strong and reassures all Guyanese that the party is firmly committed to the rule of law and remains Guyana’s largest multi-ethnic party, which continues to be unwavering in pursuit of representing the interest of all Guyanese,” Ramjattan said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Although the Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday called for GECOM to gear up for elections in 90 days in light of the passing of the contentious no-confidence motion, both the AFC and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) believe that this is dependent on other factors.

“The commission wishes to remind the nation of the fact that, unless otherwise ruled by the court, or decided upon by a motion passed by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly, the Guyana Elections Commission must be fully prepared to conduct these elections within this period of time,” the PSC said in a media release.

However, speaking earlier on Wednesday, Minster Ramjattan said: “We are very much prepared for an election, but we will have the elections, I understand [and] as was agreed to at the leader of the opposition and the President’s meeting, when the two very important matters of court cases and GECOM’s readiness are known.”

Following the high-level bilateral meeting between the government and opposition earlier in the month, the two sides had agreed that government Chief Whip Amna Ally along with Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira would meet with GECOM to discuss its preparedness.
Just last week, Ally told the newspaper that hosting of the meeting depends on the availability of GECOM Chairman Justice (ret’d) James Patterson, who was last reported to be on a medical leave extension.

In the meantime, the AFC says that whenever the time comes for elections the party will contest as a coalition along with the APNU but has, individually, already begun to do its own ground work.

“We are on outreaches all across the country as we have been doing for a number of months now and that will continue, it will be even bigger this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, regarding their position as a legitimate negotiator at the coalition’s table, he added: “We will do our best at negotiating. The Cummingsburg Accord is still in existence and indeed it will be a new scenario if we have to hold elections. Hopefully, we may not because we are fighting a case in court and I’m pretty optimistic about what the court will do; right up to the CCJ we will go if it means that. But yes, indeed, I feel that we are in a strong position. Our support base all across the country is with us and they’ve been growing in numbers.”