After two years in Government… The AFC slipped at times but regained its footing

After two years in Government… The AFC slipped at times but regained its footing – Trotman

May 11, 2017 News

Today marks two years since the Alliance for Change (AFC) joined forces with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to secure a win at the May 2015 General Elections.
This saw the 22-year reign of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) come to an end.
Reflecting on that day, the Leader of the AFC Raphael Trotman said that the coalition was definitely the right turn for his party.
“The country was demanding change from a regime that had overstayed its time; we had to answer the call to get together with the five parties that had formed the APNU.
“The AFC gained 12 parliamentary seats and was able to bring its skills and abilities to link arms with the APNU to form a formidable and credible government.”
Trotman, the Minister of Natural Resources, said that being in government as a coalition partner has been exciting, challenging and fulfilling for the AFC.
“Save for one member, no other Minister had been in government before so we had a steep learning curve to conquer and along the way our feet slipped at times but we recovered and found our footing, and overall, as leader of the AFC, I am extremely proud of our efforts as Ministers, Councillors and in the other spheres where we have been able to serve the people of Guyana.”
Responding to the question of what few things he would have liked to see change as it relates to the agreement between the AFC and the APNU, Trotman stated that he wished that time allowed the AFC to have the Cummingsburg Accord in place before February 14, 2015.
“Essentially, the Accord has everything necessary for good and strong government and needs only to be strengthened at the level of local government in terms of laying out protocols of engagement and service, and enablers to ensure the bonding between the women and youth arms of the parties.”
Asked whether the union with the APNU would have affected the AFC’s membership, Trotman responded: “We have not seen a decrease in membership or enthusiasm and this was evident at the recently held biennial conference in January 2017.
“We are aware that there is some discontent in some quarters as members expected us to move faster in holding former government officials accountable for misdeeds and for not providing some aspects of the “good life” in as timely a manner as hoped.”
Trotman said that the AFC accepts, also, that they would have not achieved everything that was intended. This, he said, was due to unexpected challenges.
“But we feel satisfied that we were able to accomplish much in a short period. There is much work to be done. The people have good things to expect in the coming three years. 2017 is expected to be the most challenging of the five-year term.”
Asked whether he thought the Coalition has another shot at the upcoming General elections in 2020, he responded, “Most definitely we will win the next elections.
“A term of office is for five years and we are only two years into the term and the people will be quite satisfied with our overall performance at the end of the five years when juxtaposed with the PPP’s tenure and when the Manifesto promises begin to be ticked off one by one as being completed.”
“The benefits of many of the measures that we complain about in 2017 will in fact bear sweet fruit in 2020. Citizens need to remember where we came from and to keep the faith as we proceed on the journey to where we are destined to be.
“It is in the middle of the journey that the going is the roughest. All will be well.”

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