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WPA’s experiences better under Norton led coalition – Dr. Hinds
– says still room for improvement
(Kaieteur News) – Co-leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds said his party’s political experiences are better under the Norton led coalition, but as always, there is room for improvement.
Co-leader of the WPA Dr. David Hinds
In 2020, WPA parted ways with the David Granger led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition over what it said were violations of governing principles of coalition politics and the sidelining of the collective’s smaller constituents.
The party later rejoined the coalition under the leadership of Norton to contest the 2025 general and regional elections. Though APNU was decimated at the polls, the party was able to secure one of the 12 seats the coalition has been assigned in the national assembly.
The defeat was not only at the national level, but at the regional elections as well. Hinds told a press conference last week that the WPA was not part of the discussions regarding APNU’s plan for the chairmanship of Region 10, where the party was badly beaten.
Hinds was asked whether his party’s experience under Norton’s leadership was similar to that of the Granger led APNU+AFC. He explained that WPA’s relationship with APNU was electoral, and now that the elections are over, focus is now on parliament.
“So, it is not unusual for us not to be part of the decision making on the election of the regional officers. We however wish to stress that during the campaign we were for the most part very much part of the decision-making process. We are also very active in the parliamentary group,” he said.
Dr Hinds added, “So, yes our experience as part of the Norton led APNU is much better than during the previous dispensation. Of course, there is always room for improvement. In politics nothing is perfect.”
In August of 2020, during the period leading up to the publication of the list, Granger cast aspersions on ‘cardboard parties’ which, in his view, did not deserve representation in the national assembly. Coming to its own defence, the WPA said that its contributions to the formation and evolution of APNU were “relatively formidable.”
“For a party without much material resources,” it stated, “we have endeavoured to compensate in areas in which our strengths are manifest. “
In that regard, the WPA noted its contribution toward the development of the APNU+AFC coalition’s elections 2020 manifesto, participation on the campaign platform “when we were allowed”, and in the coalition’s defence during the five- month post-election standoff.
That being said, the party registered its discontentment with the fact that it was informed by media reports that APNU decided on its representatives for the then national assembly, with no prior consultation. It said that it was only informed that its then chairperson, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley was selected as one of the persons after it wrote the PNCR General Secretary, Amna Ally to enquire about the state of affairs.
“We view this as uncomradely, disrespectful, insulting, a gross disregard for principle and, therefore, unacceptable,” the WPA had stated. The party then requested the removal of its two nominees from the APNU list for parliament and the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
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