Granger-led coalition “likely” to win next “close” election -US Congress report

The United States Congressional Research Service (CRS), a think-tank for the United States (U.S.) Congress, says some analysts believe that the David Granger-led coalition is likely to win next year’s general elections.

“Past general elections in Guyana suggest the 2020 race will be close, but some analysts contend the APNU/AFC’s multiparty and cross-ethnic coalition is likely to sustain the Granger government in power,” the CRS said in its December 6, 2019 edition.

Granger’s People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is the largest party in A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) umbrella which includes the often vocal Working People’s Alliance (WPA). The Alliance For Change (AFC) is the second largest party in the entire coalition.

The CRS says information in its report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of the U.S. Congress.

The CRS report says congressional interest in the South American country is that “as Guyana approaches its March 2020 elections, some Members of Congress have stressed the need for the plebiscite to be free, fair, and fully transparent, particularly as the next government is poised to gain considerable proceeds from oil. In addition, legislation has been introduced in both houses (the House of Representatives and the Senate) to extend the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) until September 2030”.

In 2000, Guyana became a beneficiary of the CBTPA, a program that provides enhanced tariff treatment for certain imports from the region, including goods made with U.S. yarns, fabrics, and threads.

The report’s analysts did not give any reason for their forecast that the incumbent administration is likely to win the next polls. Their prediction is in sharp contrast to that of Professor Evan Ellis, who in his private capacity, has said the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is likely to win.

Professor Ellis has said that given concerns regarding corruption in prior PPP administrations, the United States should embrace and work in good faith with a future PPP government.

At the same time, Professor Ellis advises that the U.S. must do so with its eyes open, holding the PPP to account with respect to its commitments to transparency, democracy, and commitment to free market and the rule of law.

The APNU+AFC coalition has since lashed out at Ellis, saying that he “is a ‘known asset’ of a certain lobbying firm in Washington DC, USA. This firm has a known connections [sic] to the PPP.”

This coalition has failed

According to benscop guyana landed a man on the moon

As Guyana gears up for elections on March 2, I join with so many others in urging the small parties to form a pre-election coalition so that they can secure enough seats to ensure a minority government, and thereby hold the balance of power in parliament, something the AFC could have achieved in 2015. This would ensure that the government of the day is unable to operate in the manner the PPP and PNC have done in the past and could bring back a great deal of accountability, transparency and focus on people's welfare.

60 days to election

Change Guyana Leader Robert Badal has flayed President David Granger over his New Year’s address containing plans for the coalition government if re-elected.

Badal in a statement noted that Granger said that his Coalition’s plan for the next decade is based on four pillars. The Green State, The Digital State, The Petroleum State and the Education Nation.

The President (has) shown us yet again his party’s lack of vision and the obvious contradiction between his plan and his performance over the past four and a half years.