Despite grievances, AFC and WPA committed to governing coalition in upcoming polls

The Alliance for Change (AFC) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) admit grievances since 2015 with the coalition government arrangement, but have both reaffirmed their intention to contest coming elections as part of it.

The coalition government is made up of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), a partnership of several parties, including, but not limited to the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the WPA, and the Justice for All Party, and the AFC.

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice Claudette Singh, has communicated to President David Granger that GECOM will be prepared to hold elections by the end of February 2019.

During a 20 September press conference, AFC executive member, Dominic Gaskin, told reporters that coalition governments retain an important role in Guyana, given that traditionally, the two largest parties draw most of their support from different ethnic groups, leading to polarisation.

Gaskin said that this reality invariably creates a situation where victory for one party is perceived as a loss not just for the other party, but for the ethnic group which largely supports the losing party, which has created, and continues to create issues.

The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has traditionally drawn most of its supporters from the Indo-Guyanese population, while the PNCR has traditionally drawn the majority of its support from the Afro-Guyanese population.

Gaskin said that this tradition has often resulted in situations where smaller ethnic groups were left out of the political process. Against this backdrop, he said, Guyana’s remedy lies in embracing a coalition government, as he believes that it can potentially confront, and whittle away the issues which have been created by Guyana’s existing political culture regarding its party system, voting, and post-elections governance.

“Every Guyanese must feel included. That gives a coalition government extra value going forward. It is the best option, as opposed to single party rule,” Gaskin said.

WPA committed to coalition

Meanwhile, during a WPA press conference on the same day, WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds, admitted that the coalition has not adopted any of the proposals or recommendations which the party has put forward.

Hinds further stated that he believes that on many occasions, decisions have taken without the inclusion of, or consultation with smaller parties in the APNU. While criticising this approach, and the larger coalition partners which he said are responsible for this reality, he said that the party remains committed to the coalition, and to contesting the coming elections with the coalition as he believes this is the best option for the party, and for Guyana.