Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Jermaine Figueira recently voiced his frustration with talks between his party, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC), labeling the negotiations, as being riddled with selfish ambition and a lack of political maturity.
In a recent statement, Figueira said the APNU+AFC talks are “marked by distrust, egoism, selfishness and an absence of political maturity.”
“What I observe, regrettably, is not a coalition in pursuit of national advancement, but factions vying for dominance, guided less by strategic foresight and more by historically rooted grievances, personal ambitions, and perceived entitlements,” he said.
He noted that the negotiations between the two parties should have been a pivotal moment for collaboration. However, he noted it has instead devolved into infighting and power struggles.
He urged People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Leader Aubrey Norton and AFC Leader, Nigel Hughes to rise above narrow interests, and place the national interest first.
Figueira acknowledged that the People’s Progressive Party enjoys “many advantages, popular leadership nationally, considerable financial and institutional resources, and command over influential platforms, including large sections of the media.” As such, he stressed the need for unity, noting that if the opposition is to mount a credible challenge to the incumbent administration.
Further, he called for a consensus candidate to lead the coalition into the next general elections. The Opposition MP argued that any such person “must be selected not through backroom deals or public ultimatums but through an inclusive, transparent process that reflects the will of the collective body and the aspirations of the Guyanese people.”
He warned that continued dysfunction would only serve to betray citizens who are desperate for better governance and representation. “The time for gamesmanship has passed. The time for leadership is now,” Figueira stated.
