— Chandra Narine Sharma

LEADER of the Justice For All Party (JFAP), Chandra Narine Sharma, has affirmed that the party stands firm behind the coalition government and President David Granger as the presidential candidate for the APNU+AFC slate.
“I am sticking with the coalition; Sharma is sticking with the coalition and that will not change,” the party’s leader the told Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday.

The JFAP is one of the five parties that constitute the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition. The other parties include the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the National Front Alliance (NFA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).
APNU was formed in 2011 and the party joined forces with the Alliance For Change (AFC) in 2015 to contest elections that year. The APNU+AFC coalition was elected to government.

According to Sharma, he has been continuously engaging his party base and from all indications, President David Granger has the nod to lead the coalition.
“The coalition is more interesting than anything,” Sharma said, adding that: “They [supporters of the JFAP] have faith in the coalition… strong, strong faith in the coalition.”

Elections are constitutionally due in 2020, but due to a no confidence vote parties have been gearing up. Cognisant of this, Sharma said the JFAP is battle-ready. “We are ready… the Justice For All Party is ready with the coalition.” As the political parties gear up for upcoming elections, whether this year or in 2020, Sharma said there are some things the coalition must do to return to government.

Sharma, however, did not wish to share his thoughts on the other political parties and their candidates but noted that he is studying all of the developments taking place.
Aside from the JFAP, other parties of the coalition have endorsed President David Granger as their presidential candidate heading into the next elections. By way of a letter published in local newspapers, PNCR General Secretary Amna Ally said the President is the ideal man for the post. “I, on behalf of the PNCR, would like to indicate that he is ‘fit and proppa’ for a second term and the PNCR endorses his candidature,” Ally said. Members of the AFC have expressed similarly sentiments.

Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and leader of the Guyana Action Party Sydney Allicock; Working People’s Alliance executive member, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine; and executive member of the National Front Alliance and Minister of Labour, Keith Scott, have also indicated their party’s support for President Granger and their commitment to the coalition.