Latest update May 18th, 2026 12:35 AM
Aug 19, 2011 News
… courting civil society, want unions on board
Talks are still continuing internally in the coalition front, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), for the vacant Prime Ministerial candidate post, officials said yesterday.
Leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, whose party is part of the coalition, yesterday disclosed that no decision has been taken as yet on who will be the number two on the ticket.
The position will be resolved shortly with APNU tackling a number of other issues including the compilation of candidate lists for the various regions and local Neighborhood Democratic Councils, Roopnarine explained during a press conference at the Congress Place, Sophia – the headquarters for the People’s National Congress Reform, which is a major part of APNU.
In addition to the WPA and PNCR, the coalition has attracted the Guyana People’s Partnership, led by businessman Peter Ramsaroop, and the Guyana National Congress. Recently the Emancipation Trust Party also joined up.
Roopnaraine admitted that while the coalition would like larger players like unions to be involved, the attitude will remain one of open arms by APNU, or as he put it “not discriminatory”.
While not naming any particular groups or persons, the official also disclosed that APNU has been courting members of the civil society and soon there will be announcements, probably before month-end.
So far, the Alliance For Change, with Khemraj Ramjattan as its Presidential Candidate, has not joined up with APNU, preferring to go it alone.
The Justice For All Party with C.N. Sharma as its leader has also not made it clear where it stands with APNU.
APNU was announced on June 24, with retired Brigadier David Granger as its Presidential Candidate. It named as the new partners the little known Guyana Democratic Congress and the Guyana Association of Local Authorities.
The Guyana People’s Partnership (GPP) was named as a partner.
The official launch was held at the Convention Centre of the Ocean View International Hotel.
The other parties in the partnership are the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and the National Front Alliance.
National elections are scheduled to be held by December this year.
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