As the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) shows increasing vulnerability, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has reiterated its call for a united opposition front, asserting that only a grand coalition of opposition parties stands the best chance of unseating the ruling party in a truly free and fair election.
In a press statement, the WPA acknowledged that some critics have expressed concerns over a lack of motivation within the opposition’s base, but the party remains confident that such conditions are temporary. According to the WPA, a coalition of the willing, bound by a shared purpose and vision, would quickly galvanise support among the electorate.
The idea that the opposition’s base is not yet motivated is temporary, the WPA said. The party says it believes that a united coalition, guided by a common intent, would energise the people in no time. A coalition that is united and purposeful is the key to a successful challenge to the PPP, the WPA contends.
The statement came amid growing concern over political schism between the People’s National Congress Reform/A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR/APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC) over whether they would contest the upcoming General and Regional Elections as a coalition of go their separate ways.
The APNU+AFC contested the 2015 and 2020 elections as a coalition. An agreement between the two sides was slated for March 31. However the two sides are still continuing negotiations, which include arriving a presidential candidate and determining the proportionality of seats in the National Assembly.
According to earlier reports the AFC was pushing for a 70/30 percent allocation and up the demands to 60/40. The AFC even in its heydays during the rotating leadership of Raphael Trotman and Khemraj Ramjattan won seven (7) seats in the 65-seat National Assembly. Another major sticking issue is the presidential candidate as both parties insist their leader should be. Hughes later said he is prepared to step down, put Guyana first and agree to a consensus candidate.
On the other hand Norton has reportedly, he is only prepared to accept former vice president Carl Greenidge as the consensus candidate. However, Stabroek News reported Greenidge may not be interested in the position. Another name being floated is businessman and Opposition Member of the Natural Resource Fund, Dr. Terrence Campbell
Recent credible polls have shown there is high disaffection with the current political leadership– PNCR Aubrey Norton, AFC Nigel Hughes and PPP Irfaan Ali. The polls have shown the people are clamouring for fresh leadership and view the current corps of leaders disinterested in the welfare of the masses.
Meanwhile the WPA acknowledges that discussions and compromises are essential in coalition-building, the party stressed the importance of consensus over confrontation.
“WPA urges our sister parties to quickly iron out their apparent differences.” According to the party “History will not be kind to us if we allow short term differences to blind us to long term implications.”
Although the WPA is not a central figure in the current coalition talks—an effort shaped by varying perceptions of electoral strength—the party, with its decades of political experience, cautioned against prioritising individual party interests over the will of the people.
The WPA warned that failing to heed the lessons of history could lead to significant political miscalculations with dire consequences. The party’s message was clear: the opposition must not squander this critical moment by allowing personal or factional agendas to derail efforts for a unified front.
“We hope [that] good sense prevails,” the WPA concluded, signaling its hope that opposition parties will put aside differences and work toward the common goal of ensuring a democratic and fair electoral process.