Opposition Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir is urging her colleagues to set aside their differences and focus on building a unified front as negotiations continue over a potential coalition to contest the upcoming General and Regional Elections.
Discussions between the People’s National Congress Reform/A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR/APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) have been ongoing, with both sides exploring the possibility of forming a new coalition. This is especially crucial after the two parties previously teamed up in 2015 and 2020. However, recent tensions and disagreements have raised concerns about whether these talks will lead to a viable agreement.
Speaking on a recent radio programme, Walton-Desir, who also serves as the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, passionately appealed for collaboration: “I hope that everybody can get into one room and hammer this out and come up with something that will inspire and motivate Guyanese to say this is a team of people that we can see vision in, that we can get behind, that we believe can would this country in the direction that it should go because it certainly is not the PPP [People’s Progressive Party].”
Her call resonates with widespread sentiment among those who believe a strong coalition is necessary to unseat the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and bring a new direction to the country. Under the PPP’s tenure, allegations of corruption, the rising cost of living, and the failure to improve the quality of life for ordinary citizens have created growing disillusionment.
Former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan earlier expressed sentiments similar to Walton-Desir’s, insisting that both parties remain at the negotiating table until they reach an agreement.
Although March 31, 2025, was set as a deadline for finalising the coalition arrangement, both sides have now confirmed that talks are still ongoing, with no deal in sight even three months later. Publicly, the leaders of the two parties, AFC’s Nigel Hughes and PNCR’s Aubrey Norton, have been adamant that they both must be considered for the presidential candidate role in any coalition, creating further divisions.
Last Friday, Hughes softened his stance, suggesting the possibility of a consensus candidate, stating he is prepared to step aside and put Guyana first. However, this was complicated by a subsequent party statement reaffirming Hughes as their preferred presidential candidate. The AFC has also adjusted its demand for parliamentary seat distribution from a 70/30 split in its favor to 60/40, signaling further negotiation hurdles.
The AFC today is far removed from the party’s past prominence, evvel led by Raphael Trotman and Khemraj Ramjattan, which secured seven parliamentary seats in its prime. Polls also show a growing public desire for fresh leadership, with neither Norton nor Hughes faring well in approval ratings. Meanwhile, President Irfaan Ali’s popularity is in sharp decline, with only 29 percent of the public expressing trust in him, and just 25 percent backing Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Walton-Desir’s appeal for the opposition to put the country’s needs first, urging her colleagues to reflect on their goals and priorities, underscores the urgent need for a new direction in Guyanese politics. We must look in the mirror and ask ourselves: What do we want for this country? What is best for Guyana, not just for us as individuals or parties? she said.
Her comments reflect a broader frustration with divisive politics and a desire for a new era of leadership. Walton-Desir, a staunch supporter of coalition politics, is committed to the vision that if Guyana succeeds, so too will its leaders. With the nation’s future on the line, her call for unity and focus on the bigger picture resonates with many who are eager for change.