GEORGETOWN, Guyana, – President David Granger seems to have the backing of the members of the coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) as it prepares for a possible regional and general election in March this year.
The granger coalition collapsed last month after then government backbencher, Charrandass Persaud, on December 21 backed a motion of no confidence filed by the general secretary of the main opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagde.
The decision by Persaud, a former member of the Alliance for Change (AFC), the second biggest member in the coalition, meant that regional and general elections are likely by March this year in keeping with the Guyana Constitution. The coalition had enjoyed a one seat majority in the 65-member National Assembly.
The High Court is expected to give a ruling by month-end as the government seeks to challenge the validity of the votes cast in the National Assembly.
Amma Ally, the general secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the biggest member of the coalition and Granger’s own party, said despite orchestrated rumors and untruths regarding the health of the incumbent he is still considered “fit and proper” for a second term and “the PNCR endorses his candidature.”
Granger is in Cuba undergoing medical treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and his doctors there have said he continues to respond well to the treatment and should make a full recovery.
Ally said the party looks forward to be under his guidance for a second term and urged Guyanese to vote for vision, development, cordiality, selfless work and enjoy the good life.
“We are also cognisant of his discipline and in no way can he be deemed as a corrupt leader. He possesses the necessary qualities that are required to be a country’s leader. He has constantly been active in cleaning up the 23 years of mess which the PPP put our country in,” Ally added.
Another coalition party, the National Front Alliance (NFA) said it too would be supporting Granger.
“We look forward to the opportunity to reaffirm our support for him. We did have our executive meeting earlier in the year, coming out in support of that,” said NFA executive member, Keith Scott, who is also Minister of Labor.
“The people of this country trust President Granger, he has the right discipline. He has been very democratic in his dealings since he has acceded to power, and that is the kind of person that we need to bring healing in this society.”
The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, said he sees no reason for his party to be swayed from President Granger as the candidate.
“He’s a very upright person, very principled. No one can point a finger at him in relations to personal corruption, he’s really a model citizen, and we’ll be in support,” said Roopnaraine.
Granger, who led the coalition to victory in 2015, will face Irfaan Ali, who last weekend, said that he was “extremely humbled” with the party’s decision to pick him to lead it into the next election.
