APNU has to accept AFC’s PM Candidate – David Patterson

The Alliance For Change (AFC) says its coalition partner A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has no say in who becomes the Prime Ministerial candidate for the next General and Regional Elections.

Speaking at a press conference at the AFC’s head office on Thursday, General Secretary David Patterson said in accordance with the Cummingsburg Accord signed by the coalition parties on February 14, 2015, it is the AFC that determines the Prime Ministerial candidate.

The Cummingsburg Accord is valid for 60 months. As one of the persons who negotiated the accord, Patterson said, “it is very clear that the Alliance For Change (AFC) shall nominate the Prime Ministerial Candidate and it is very clear that the APNU shall nominate the Presidential Candidate.”

“There [are no] discussions and we will not entertain any discussions that changes that and that’s just the way it is,” he added.

Volda Lawrence, Chair of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)- the largest party in the APNU coalition – at a press conference on Friday last said her party welcomes the fact that the AFC was able to make its selection, however, she said the coalition has not reached a point of discussing the issue.

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan was voted by a majority to replace Moses Nagamootoo as the party’s next Prime Ministerial candidate for the upcoming general elections.

Ramjattan secured the votes of over 200 persons following a discussion on a motion of who should be the next Prime Ministerial Candidate. Mr Nagamootoo only secured a handful of votes.