Last Updated on Saturday, 3 May 2025, 0:01 by Writer
Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes, is optimistic that the other parties and individuals, who participated in a joint news conference near Double Day Hotel, Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo on Wednesday, could coalesce to contest this year’s general and regional elections.
“It marks the consensus view of several people across the political divide, across civil society who are dedicated to improving this country and changing it and stopping it from the path it’s heading down now; that I can say. What it develops into is a question that, I think, all of us are considering and all of us are committed to a better Guyana,” he said when asked whether the grouping marked a coalition of interests to contest the next elections.
On whether he was optimistic that it would gel before Nomination Day, Mr Hughes said, “I’m always optimistic.”
Among those facing the media at the news conference were People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) members Annette Ferguson and Dawn Hastings-Williams, as well businessman Dr Terrence Campbell, Leader of the Assembly For Liberty & Prosperity Party (ALP) Simona Broomes and Chairman of Vigilent For a New Guyana (V-PAC) Dorwain Bess.
An apology was issued for the absence of former Georgetown Mayor and PNCR member Ubraj Narine.
They had gone near the hotel to publicise their views about the drowning of 11-year-old Adriana Younge.
Demerara Waves Online News was told that a third parliamentarian, who is a PNCR member, was expected to be at that engagement with the media but could not make it because of a clash with another engagement.
When asked on Friday whether he was worried that the presence of at least two PNCR members at that news conference signaled their departure from that party to an AFC-led coalition or it represents a crack in the relationship with the PNCR, PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton deemed it “speculation” and said that PNCR members were free to associate themselves.
“None of them has indicated that they intend to leave the party”.
Concerning their appearance at the news conference, he said, unlike the ruling People’s Progressive Party, he said the PNCR did not have an “iron-clad” grip on its members.
“We’ve seen many persons act based on their conscience. It’s up to them. I’m not one of the political leaders who believe that if people disagree with you, then automatically, they’re out so those who were there were there in their individual capacity. I cannot stop them from being there neither would I want to stop them,” he said.
Coalition talks between the AFC and the PNCR-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) collapsed last month over who should be the presidential candidate, representative of the list and the percentage share of the cabinet, parliamentary seats and political appointments.
Norton denies being invited to press conference
Contrary to claims by AFC Executive Member, Cathy Hughes on Wednesday that the PNCR Leader was invited to the news conference at Tuschen, Mr Norton said on Friday that “as far as I’m aware, we weren’t invited to any press conference.”
Without naming the AFC member, he described as a “circumlocutious answer” the response to a question about whether he had been invited there.
Ms Hughes said on Wednesday that “The Leader of the Opposition and also our colleagues in the APNU-PNC were invited. Unfortunately, they couldn’t make it today but we are very honoured to have my colleagues Dawn and also Annette right here,” she said.
Asked whether the PNCR or himself had been invited to a meeting of political parties and other interested persons earlier this week to discuss the issue of Adriana Younge’s death, he said his party was never invited.
“At no stage were we invited to discuss anything about Adriana Younge,” he said.
He, however, related that PNCR General Secretary Sherwin Benjamin earlier this week received a message requesting that they work jointly.
“I recall clearly when it was brought to my attention, I said then, communicate with them. Let us have a plan on how we move forward. That is the last I heard from them and then I saw them in a political gathering for the want of a better word and the truth is we were not invited to that press conference,” he said.
AFC Chairman, Raphael Trotman on Friday confirmed to Demerara Waves Online News that he reached out to Mr Norton and Mr Benjamin as late as Tuesday morning “but there was no response.
“I stand by my word and can prove it. However, the situation is bigger than all of us and the door for collaboration remains open,” Mr Trotman said when contacted.
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