AFC appoints Cummingsburg Accord Review Committee

Last Updated on Sunday, 30 April 2017, 21:11 by Denis Chabrol

On the eve of the second anniversary of the historic May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections, the Alliance For Change has announced the appointment of a special Cummingsburg Accord Review Committee (CARC).

The AFC has already identified several deficiencies including how to deal with representation at the local government level and the absence of a dispute resolution mechanism although that has been provided for in the Cummingsburg Accord.

The CARC has been tasked with studying the Cummingsburg Accord and identifying areas which may require strengthening and updating along with discussion and negotiation with Coalition partner, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The AFC, took the decision at its second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for 2017, while simultaneously reaffirming that the Coalition Government remains strong and cohesive and that it remains committed to the Coalition’s ideals and principles and the Cummingsburg Accord itself. However the party noted that the accord is a sunset agreement which requires early review with a view to the Local Government Elections of 2019 and General and Regional Elections in 2020.

“The Cummingsburg Accord is an historic agreement which was the platform for the APNU+AFC Coalition coming to government in 2015, it has served as a guide to the Coalition partners in government and there has been good faith and a strong sense of mutual respect on both sides,” noted party Leader Raphael Trotman in a statement issued by that party.

“Given that we are approaching our second anniversary in government it presents an opportune time to engage in reflection and commence an early process of thorough, comprehensive and necessary review of the Cummingsburg Accord with a view to strengthening, updating and broadening the agreement as we look towards upcoming elections in two and three years’ time,” Trotman added.

“The CARC has been tasked with widely consulting with the party’s members and stakeholders to listen to their views and recommendations and examining the agreement itself and present to the party’s NEC, at its next meeting, a preliminary report on the areas, which in its view, requires further examination,” Trotman explained, while reiterating that the party is keen on ensuring that it prepares adequately and comprehensively for future elections.
The committee comprises:

Dear Editors/Correspondents,

With regard to the AFC media release issued earlier this evening relating to the formation of the Cummingsburg Accord Review Committee (CARC), regrettably, Mr. Sherod Duncan’s name was mistakenly omitted as a committee member.

The CARC comprises eight members as follows:
Dr. Vincent Adams
Dr. Rohan Somar
Marlon Williams
David Patterson
Joel Edmond
Sherod Duncan
Representative of Women For Change
Representative of Youth For Change

The members will appoint a chairperson from among themselves.