–Norton, Carol Joseph lead list

TERRENCE Campbell, the businessman who once threatened to “break the hands” of Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton during coalition negotiations, has now been named a candidate on the very list Norton led to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Nomination Day.

Just last year, Campbell publicly lambasted Norton’s leadership and declared the opposition coalition process “untenable.”
Campbell had served as an interlocutor between the AFC (Alliance For Change) and APNU during talks to revive the coalition.
“My exact words were that I would break the hands of Aubrey Norton and get you (AFC) a 65/35 deal,” Campbell was quoted as saying by sections of the local press back in June.
Campbell, representing the AFC, had been a voice for the party in its pursuit of 60/40 and then 70/30 proposals for a coalition government.

Eventually the coalition talks fell through even with the AFC offering to settle for just 35 per cent of political representation. Now, he’s officially part of the team he once doubted.
Meanwhile, APNU’s arrival at the Umana Yana was anything but subdued. Led by a visibly energised Norton, who was joined by prime ministerial candidate Juretha Fernandes and vice-presidential candidate Ganesh Mahipaul, the party made a flamboyant entrance waving flags, ringing bells and speakers blaring slogans.

The air of festivity, however, was tinged with tension. At one point APNU supporters made a raucous attempt to block the passage of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), resulting in a brief standoff.

Chants from APNU supporters, while passionate, quickly escalated into the offensive. Several were heard hurling explicit insults at former APNU figures, including Amanza Walton-Desir, the former member of parliament who has since broken ranks and launched her own political party, the Forward Guyana Movement.

“She sell out!” one supporter shouted, while others used far coarser language unfit for print.
Prior to the exit march, Norton, following the submission of the party’s list, said: “We have a strong team. I believe we have the best team on the list,” after the party’s submission of its candidate lists to GECOM.

He added: “I feel energised. Our support base has been activated. We don’t have to pay anybody to come here. Everyone that [sic] is here is here on their own free will.”
With former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams; attorneys Dr Dexter Todd and Ronald Daniels and newcomers such as gospel singer Saiku Andrews and youth activist Eden Corbin joining the slate, Norton described the list as “well-balanced” and ready to win. The list is co-led by former oil-and-gas adviser under the APNU+AFC and party executive, Carol Joseph.