Is the accord a PNCR and AFC thing?

Nov 11, 2019 Letters 0

Dear Editor,
As an overseas-based Guyanese, I have been following the renegotiating of the Cummingsburg Accord between the AFC and APNU.
As I read reports of the negotiations in the Kaieteur News, it is always mentioned that these negotiations are taking place between the AFC and APNU and the lead negotiators for the APNU in Volda Lawrence.
Never have I seen the names of the other negotiators of APNU mentioned.
This led my suspicions that these negotiations are not done by APNU and AFC, but with AFC and PNCR.
What confirm my suspicions was when I was reading Hinds’ sight in Sunday November 10, 2019 Kaieteur News.
It was mentioned by Mr Hinds that the negotiations are indeed between the PNC and AFC and I quote: “The PNCR and AFC are locked in negotiations over who brings what to the table and deserve what” , end of quote.
Then in another part of the said article he mentioned again and I quote: “I doubt PNC leaders would say it publicly, but it is this truism that demands the PNCR negotiates with a very weakened AFC as if the latter is strong” -end of quote. Editor, if the negotiations are indeed between the PNCR and AFC, then what are the roles of the remaining parties within APNU?
Are they side-stepped or do they not have the capacity or authority to join their big brother in the ensuing negotiations.
To ask a direct question- what is the position of the WPA in all these business of negotiations? Can Mr Hinds state who is his party’s representative in the talks?
As I have suspect all along, all the namesake parties in APNU are paper giants including the WPA.
Mr Hinds always touts that the WPA is a grass-root and mass-based party, can he mention if his party ever ventured into an Indian-dominated community to present its platform or share its message?
I belief that if a party wants to be broad-based then it should make every effort to reach out to all Guyanese.
On a lighter note, I wonder why there are two different bodies representing workers in Guyana. Aren’t the GTUC supposed to be the umbrella body for all trade unions?
If so, what about FITUG?
And this brings me to the point I want to make.
The TUC General Secretary (Lincoln Lewis) should expend his time and energies to bring about a unified trade union body with a level playing field pertaining to representation of the unions in the TUC based on their strength and not those present biased rules where paper unions have more representation than the vibrant ones, rather than engaging in biased political matters.
Zahir Khan.