Opposition in “significant trouble” for losing 2025 elections- Terrence Campbell; appeals for unity

Last Updated on Thursday, 30 January 2025, 18:55 by Writer

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) could lose this year’s general and regional elections if those parties do not fix their problems, based on recent polls, city businessman Dr Terrence Campbell said Thursday.

“The polls, to which I have been privy, suggest significant trouble for the opposition. However, they also indicate a path to victory through a large block of undecided voters,” he told Demerara Waves Online News.

Dr Campbell declined to provide statistical findings of the polls.

General Secretary of the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo earlier this month said a poll conducted by his party indicates a landslide victory at the general and regional elections to be held in October or November.

Dr Campbell, who is the opposition representative on the Natural Resources Fund’s Investment Committee, said undecided voters could shift in favour of the opposition. “It is my considered opinion that those voters are not enamored with the PPP. Simultaneously, they are disappointed with the current configuration of the opposition,” he added.

He appealed to the opposition to unify. “With a clear understanding of the gravity, and urgency, of the situation, I am calling publicly on the leaders of the opposition to put aside any political differences and put up a unity slate,” he said.

The APNU and AFC are yet to settle on a coalition formation and presidential candidate, with PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton saying that his party’s highest decision-making body, the Congress, last year decided that he should be the party’s presidential candidate and only he could decide on a change if necessary. AFC Leader, Nigel Hughes wants the presidential candidacy to be determined by polls and other criteria.

Dr Campbell, once associated with A New and Guyana (ANUG), fears that if the PPP secures a two-thirds majority in the 65-seat National Assembly at the upcoming general and regional elections, the PPP-Civic would amend the constitution to, among other things, exit the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Both the AFC and the PPP are on record as recognising the value of the CCJ as Guyana’s final court of appeal. Then-PNCR Leader, David Granger had said the CCJ’s role in Guyana’s elections should be reduced.

Meanwhile, Dr Campbell, who resurfaced to prominence in recent weeks after he challenged the manner in which the PPPC administration was spending Guyana’s oil revenues, said he was ready to become an opposition candidate for this year’s polls. “If offered the opportunity to join that slate, I will certainly do so. I am prepared to serve under any of the current leaders or any compromise candidate they choose. For me, this is not about what Guyana can do for me, but what I must do for Guyana,” he said.