— after nine years of bludgeoning from the PNC/R

AFTER almost a decade of ‘bludgeoning’ from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) – the largest party in the five-party A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition- the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has decided to “walk away” from the coalition, but has offered an ultimatum, which, if fulfilled, would see them rescinding their decision.

APNU, which comprised the PNC/R, the National Front Alliance (NFA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP), and the Justice for All Party (JFAP) and WPA, was formed in 2011, but had recruited the Alliance For Change (AFC) to form a larger coalition, the APNU+AFC.
Since the formation of the APNU and particularly since the rise to office in 2015, there have been several violations of the principles governing coalition politics, said the WPA in a letter seen by this publication.

The political party claimed that those violations have threatened to dismantle the APNU. Most noteworthy has been how decisions, in the coalition, are made.
“WPA has had cause on several occasions, both internally and publicly, to draw attention to the practice of non-consultation within the APNU. It cannot be denied that the behaviour of the PNC/R leadership in this regard has left a lot to be desired,” said the political party.

Decisions affecting the APNU have been made and continue to be made in the name of the constituent parties without consultations.
“In other words, we have had to live with PNC’s decisions being imposed on the rest of the APNU. Unfortunately, although the coalition is now out of power, nothing has changed for the better within the APNU,” said the WPA.

Throughout the life of the APNU, WPA, to its detriment, said it has done everything within its powers to ensure the survival and success of the APNU and by extension, the coalition.
The “accommodating positions” it assumed on critical issues, which it would normally condemn, have exposed the party both internally, by party members and supporters and externally, by its detractors, to the worst kinds of criticisms imaginable.

NO LONGER BUSINESS AS USUAL
It has become very clear even to the party’s most hardline supporters of “accommodation” that in the face of recent developments, which culminated in the fiasco of the 2020 General and Regional Elections, it could no longer be business as usual within the APNU.
For a party without much material resources, the WPA claimed that it has endeavoured to compensate in areas in which strengths are manifest.
During the recent campaign and the impasse which followed, the WPA made equal contributions from the preparation of the manifesto, to participation on the campaign platform, when they were allowed participation, to the defence of the coalition and advocacy of its case during the five-month standoff.
“Our contributions have been made out of a recognition that Guyana needed and continues to need a new approach, if it is to emerge from the state it finds itself

in. We believe coalition politics is necessary for the survival of Guyana as a viable nation-state,” said the political party.
In pursuit of this objective, the WPA said it has made the ultimate sacrifice of neglecting the replenishing of its party in deference to the unity and viability of the APNU. Unfortunately, leaders of the PNCR have not been similarly disposed, lamented the WPA.

“So, we continue to witness their bludgeoning of their APNU partners even at a critical time when togetherness is required,” said the political party.
In a recent show of its power within the coalition, the PNC/R unilaterally decided on the persons who will represent the coalition in the National Assembly. The list was dominated by members of the PNC/R and included just one member of the WPA, while other “small parties” were neglected.
“To our utter embarrassment, not for the first time, the WPA was informed by the media that APNU had decided on its representatives for the next National Assembly,” said the WPA, adding: “It was only after we sent a letter to you enquiring about the state of affairs that we were informed by the General- Secretary of the PNC/R, that the Chairperson of the WPA (Tabitha Sarabo-Halley) is one of the selected persons.”

This, of course was done without any engagement with the WPA, thus denying the party an opportunity to determine who its representative should be.
The party viewed this as disrespectful, insulting, a gross disregard for principle and unacceptable. This, the party believes, is just a precursor of what is to come.
In an attempt to “flex its muscles,” the WPA has requested that their representatives for Parliament and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) be removed.

DECLINED TO COMMENT
WPA Chairman, Sarabo-Halley, when contacted by the Guyana Chronicle to find out if she is willing to give up her parliamentary seat under the coalition government in the 12th Parliament, declined to comment.
The WPA also noted the non-allocation of parliamentary seats to the other small parties, and said this development has changed the electoral image of the APNU and in the process, has effectively destroyed the organisation’s election franchise.

In recognition of the actions of the PNC/R, the WPA said it has been forced to draw a line in the sand and say that enough is enough.
“Since 2015 there has been no new and progressive dispensation within the APNU and there is no recognition of the rights of the partners to contribute to the decision-making process and more importantly, for each party, not the General Secretary of the PNC/R, or its leader, to determine unilaterally, the allocation of seats to each member party of the APNU for Parliament, RDC and NDC,” said the WPA.

The party is convinced that there will be no significant attitudinal changes within the APNU on the matters raised by the party, and those which must engage the attention of the organisation and be corrected, if it is to regain the government at future elections. It is this conviction and the circumstances referenced that WPA feels it can no longer remain a member of the APNU.

“However, given our commitment to coalition politics as the way forward for Guyana and out of respect for our historic relationship as partners in the APNU, WPA leaves the door open for reconciliation,” said the WPA.

In its ultimatum, the WPA insisted that it be immediately accorded the right to determine who its representative on the APNU list to the National Assembly should be, and asked that this principle be enshrined in the APNU Charter.
The WPA also insisted that the recommendations of the “Corbin Report” be implemented. Should the second and third conditions be met within the next two months, the WPA would revisit its decision to leave.

APNU in a response to criticisms from its own members, had said it values the small parties, which have been excluded from representation in the 12th Parliament.

APNU highlighted that it’s Statement of Principles to which all partners ascribe, clearly affirm that a positive transformation of Guyana can only be achieved by an inclusive Electoral Coalition built around the political parties, and other stakeholders.

“The coalition must be organised and committed to develop Guyana into a united, stable and prosperous nation, where the well-being of each citizen is assured, irrespective of differences in race, religion, region of residence, social rank or political persuasion. APNU has not and will not deviate from its founding principles,” the party explained.