Coalition deal hangs in balance due to strong AFC demands

Last Updated on Saturday, 14 February 2015, 11:22 by GxMedia

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has given up its quest for the presidency to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), possibly in exchange for several top posts and several strategic ministries should the coalition win the upcoming general and regional elections.

Three sources familiar with the talks confirmed that it is now up to the leaderships of the two parties to give their blessings before the deal is sealed. Much depends on separate meetings Saturday by APNU and the AFC.

As it stands now, the two sides agreed that APNU’s David Granger would be the presidential candidate while AFC’s Moses Nagamootoo will be his running mate as the prime minister.  But the AFC wants the Prime Minister to be responsible for ministerial appointments and the chairing of cabinet.

As a compromise and its quest to lead the alliance into the May 11, 2015 polls, agreement was reached that the AFC would be given one or two Vice Presidential posts, and the Head of the Presidential Secretariat- a key administrative position in any administration.

An AFC source confirmed to Demerara Waves Online News that part of the talks had centered on his party demanding the ministerial posts of Home Affairs, Agriculture, Youth and Sport, Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

It is unclear whether there has been any shift in the allocation of seats in an 18-member Cabinet in favour of the AFC.