No discussion on APNU+AFC prime ministerial candidate yet
-Volda Lawrence
Though the AFC has endorsed Khemraj Ramjattan for the prime ministerial post in a probable APNU+AFC coalition for the next general elections, there has been no discussion yet on this matter by the various coalition partners.
“The party welcomes the fact that the AFC party was able to have their conference and elect their new candidate for the prime ministerial position. The party or the coalition and the AFC have not reached that stage in terms of discussions on prime ministerial candidate,” PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence told a press conference on Friday.
When the AFC last month held its National Conference, the party overwhelmingly endorsed Ramjattan as the prime ministerial candidate for the next elections. Ramjattan beat out current Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo when the party membership voted to choose who should take the position should the current APNU+AFC coalition hold for the next elections.
At the conference, asked whether there needs to be acceptance from its coalition partner, AFC General Secretary David Patterson had said that the coalition is governed by an agreement, the Cummingsburg Accord, which is still in force and it states that the AFC shall nominate a prime ministerial candidate. “There is nowhere in that agreement that says nominate a prime ministerial candidate who the coalition accepts or not,” he added.
Patterson also pointed out that the Accord has not expired, noting that its lifespan is 60 months. He had said that each party at the expiration of 36 months, has an option to cancel the agreement. “So, therefore, we are dutybound to respect it from 0 to 36 and them from 36 to 60. Both sides of the Accord have the option of if they would like to break it, they indicate. Neither of the parties has done that so until the expiration of the 60th month, the Accord is still in effect,” he added.