Future of coalition agreement rests with AFC

As the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) celebrate their third anniversary today as coalition partners, the future of the Cummingsburg Accord lies solely with the AFC, which is yet to request a meeting with the APNU.

Leader of the APNU and President of Guyana, David Granger told the media today at the sidelines of an event at State House that he has not received any ‘word’ from AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman for a review of the Cummingsburg Accord, which is an agreement that formed the coalition.

According to Mr Granger, in the event that the AFC wants to meet, the APNU, which is made up of five parties with the PNC being the dominant party, is prepared. Mr Granger explained that the AFC has several options as it relates to the Cummingsburg Accord.

“All I can say at this point in time is that there is no compulsion that the Accord be reviewed because…the shortest period is three years – that is from 2015 to today and the longest period is until 2020 – so the AFC has several options.

“It can allow the Accord to proceed as it is proceeding at present. It can allow it to expire until 2020 or it can make a request for a meeting,” Mr Granger said.

He further noted that the APNU is committed to coalition politics.

“And I would say that the advent of the coalition into Government has been good for Guyana. We are better together and we would like to see the Accord continue.”

Meanwhile, media reports indicate that the National Executive Council of the AFC will meet on Saturday, February 17, where the Cummingsburg Accord will be discussed and a decision will be made on the way forward.