WPA inks agreement on coalition with PNCR for upcoming elections

The Co-Leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr David Hinds has announced that the WPA has agreed to contest the upcoming General and Regional Elections in partnership with the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). However, he said the party still remains hesitant about rejoining the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), given its past experience.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Dr Hinds said during a meeting last Wednesday, the two sides agreed to establish a joint working committee to iron out a number of technical issues.

“We have signed off on the coalition. WPA will be going into a coalition with the PNC, and the PNC has said the same. But it is a matter of working out the logistics of how WPA being outside of the APNU, how that will play itself out in a practical way,” Dr Hinds explained.

WPA is expected to meet again with the PNCR after the Mashramani celebrations, when it is expected that the committee will put forward its recommendations.

WPA Executive Tacuma Ogunseye said while the WPA believes in coalition politics and has agreed to partner with the PNCR for the upcoming elections, it is cognizant of the challenges that confronted the coalition in the past, and will continue to push to have those issues addressed.

Sidelining of the parties in the partnership by the then Leader and President, David Granger, was key among the issues.

“We have said over and over that the decision-making mechanism or approach that was used by comrade Granger had the effects of marginalizing all the political parties in the coalition including his own party, the PNC,” Ogunseye explained.

Deon Abrams, another Executive Member of the WPA, said the Alliance views coalitions in two phases – the coming together of parties to contest an election, and the formation of a national government, once successful at the elections, to engage in nation building.

He said since the Constitution of Guyana does not accommodate post-election coalition governments, therefore parties wishing to achieve this outcome must come together before elections.

“WPA is pursuing a coalition with other opposition forces to defeat the PPP which in our view has taken Guyana once again into the realm of autocratic rule. We do so with the full knowledge that our party lacks the electoral appeal to win an election on its own. Should we go into an election on our own we risk splitting the opposition vote and ensuring a return of the PPP to power. Given the fact that our last three elections were decided by one seat, we are aware that the votes of a small electoral party such as the WPA could make the difference between keeping the PPP in or throwing them out of office. Those who have pledged their support to the WPA are adamant that they do so partly to achieve the latter,” Abrams said.

He said while the WPA has its limitations, it brings to the coalition, political integrity and independence that could lead to tangible outcomes in voter mobilization and accountable governance.