The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has confirmed its partnership with the People’s National Congress (PNC), but is seeking a greater role in the governance structure should the parties contest and win the upcoming national elections.
This was made clear by WPA Executive Tacuma Ogunseye during a press conference on Monday, when he explained the key matters to be addressed by the parties before embarking on the 2025 campaign.
Ogunseye told the media that there are a number of issues the parties are addressing, but the most important for the WPA is the clear definition of the decision-making structure that will govern the Coalition government.
Ogunseye stated that the WPA has learned from past experiences, recognising that in the three previous elections it contested with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), it had been marginalised.
“We have said over and over that the decision-making mechanism or approach used by Comrade (former president David) Granger had the effect of marginalising all the political parties in the coalition, including his own party, the PNC.”
The WPA executive highlighted that this issue was raised clearly during the Coalition government, after the WPA had to protest over issues that led the former President to agree to appoint party stalwart Robert Corbin to meet with the APNU’s smaller parties to ascertain the depth of their grievances.
The Corbin report, Ogunseye continued, highlighted that all the parties were unanimous in expressing concern about the way decisions were made, and that it was not in the best interests of the Coalition or the country.
He pointed out that, on many occasions, the small parties learned about major government decisions from the newspapers.
Ogunseye added that, for the last three elections, the WPA has contested the elections either partnering with or joining a Coalition. His party’s concern, he said, is that this format has denied the WPA its electoral identity as a distinct political party.
These are some of the issues, WPA Co-Leader Dr David Hind said, that are being addressed, with working committees identified and set to report back by the end of the month to tackle issues relating to the partnership.
He emphasised the party’s commitment to coalition politics, but stated that it is hesitant about returning to the APNU coalition. The party is considering whether to partner with the APNU, rather than simply being a part of it.
