Hughes shuts door on any further coalition discussions with APNU

Declaring that the AFC has moved on from the coalition talks, the party’s leader, Nigel Hughes, today said he does not foresee anything positive coming out of another round of talks with the APNU and will therefore move ahead with his party’s plans for the upcoming elections.

The APNU recently rejected the latest proposal by the AFC which, among other things, put forward a 65/35 power sharing model in favour of the APNU.

The two parties have been negotiating since January and had originally set March 31 deadline to reach a deal. However, since then, there has been the trading of proposals and counter proposals.

At an earlier press conference today, APNU Leader, Aubrey Norton, said there was still room for further talks, but the AFC leader told reporters that he does not envision that happening.

“I think the prospects of anything positive coming out of further engagements, the prospects are marginal, we have moved on and we are heading straight to the elections as I am sure, the APNU is,” Mr. Hughes told a media briefing.

Mr. Hughes said it is perceived that it was the AFC that has been unreasonable throughout the talks. He detailed how his party compromised on many of its positions and proposals and was still unable to reach a deal.

“When these negotiations commenced, when the negotiators from the AFC, met with the negotiators from the APNU, the AFC presented a document that said these are the policies and programs that we would like to discuss first because we think it was important that we identify the program for coalition and we will park the issue of presidential candidate until afterwards,” Mr. Hughes stated.

Meanwhile, AFC Chairman, David Patterson, said he is unaware of claims made by Mr. Norton that AFC was trying to recruit APNU members.

“I don’t know about us engaging any 10 APNU members and one coming over that is very speculative that comment but obviously we wish all persons contesting this elections in whichever party they decide to contest the best of luck

With regards to Fernandes, Duncan and Ramsaroop, Mr. Hughes said that he had personally co-opted them onto the Central executive and management committees of the party. He said though he is unaware of any dissatisfaction they might have had, he did note that they were often absent from party meetings and events.

The AFC has since cancelled the membership of the three MPs over their support for the APNU’s list of candidates at the upcoming elections.

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