At least this is according to Executive Member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence, who at Congress Place Sophia minutes ago, said that the APNU negotiations team – which she is a part of – is still of the opinion that talks are ongoing.
“We have not received any written correspondence from the AFC on the stalling of the talks,” she said, while adding that the APNU did not even receive a verbal notification of the AFC’s intent.
In fact, Lawrence said that she is “surprised” at the statements made by the AFC with regards to the ongoing negotiations. She nevertheless, digressed by saying that the AFC is “an independent party” and has a right to express itself.
At an AFC press conference yesterday, AFC party Executive Dominic Gaskin said, “The AFC now wishes to confirm reports that the negotiations of the revised Cummingsberg Accord between the two parties have stalled due to a lack of consensus on this issue. The AFC has advised the APNU that it cannot proceed with any further discussions unless and until this matter is resolved.”
Quizzed on whether one of the issues revolve around AFC’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan being put forward as the PM candidate, Lawrence said that she is “not allowed to discuss that in public,” while noting that the public will be made aware of all the matters being dealt with, when negotiations wrap up.
Lawrence said that the negotiations have been tedious, but expressed confidence that both teams will be able to resolve the existing issues and “will come out stronger than ever.”
“We will find common ground,” she said.
She further expressed confidence that the two teams will be able to resolve the issues in time for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.
Former AFC Leader, Raphael Trotman, had also expressed confidence that both parties will find common ground, noting that there is no “better alternative to the Coalition”, and that “compromise has to be found on both sides”.
