Calls are mounting for the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) to return to the negotiating table and finalise a coalition agreement to contest the upcoming 2025 General and Regional Elections.
The two parties had been engaged in talks since January, with a target date of March 31, 2025, to reach an agreement. However, those discussions were derailed amid mutual distrust, leaks to the media, and a contentious debate over which party leader should be the coalition’s presidential candidate.
AFC Leader Nigel Hughes later signaled his willingness to step aside in favour of a consensus candidate. Persons have been proposing prominent businessman and Opposition Member on the Natural Resource Fund Board as a potential consensus candidate. When the AFC announced its withdrawal from talks last Thursday, Hughes named Campbell as a possible consensus choice.
In contrast, PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton, in an interview with journalist Nicole Telford, expressed confusion over the AFC’s position and maintained he has been nominated by his party to be the presidential candidate.
In a heartfelt letter to the editor, citizen Audreyanna Thomas urged both parties to urgently resume discussions, describing the decision to contest separately as “outright unacceptable.”
Vice President and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo seized the opportunity to criticise the Opposition, accusing the AFC and PNCR of being more focused on fighting over the presidential candidate than presenting a clear vision or programme for the Guyanese people.
Credible polling indicates that none of the major political figures—including Jagdeo, President Irfaan Ali, Norton, or Hughes—command the confidence of the electorate. A striking 70% of respondents indicated they are looking for new leadership. Despite internal dissatisfaction, the fragmentation of the Opposition only serves to strengthen the PPP’s grip on power.
President Ali’s popularity is also waning, with just 29% of the public expressing trust in him, and only 25% supporting Jagdeo.
Several voices within the Opposition have echoed the call for unity. Opposition Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir, speaking on a radio programme, last month, expressed hope that “everyone can get into one room and hammer this out,” emphasising the need to inspire and motivate Guyanese with a united, visionary team.
Her sentiments were echoed by former Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who previously insisted that both parties must remain at the table until an agreement is reached. In a dramatic follow-up, Jordan stated that if talks continue to fail, “put all the opposition leaders, contenders, and pretenders in a room, lock it, and throw away the key. When they’ve reached a decision—consensus, compromise, or majority—they can break down the Purple Heart door to get out.” His position was endorsed by political analyst and Working People’s Alliance (WPA) co-leader Dr. David Hinds.
Attorney-at-law Darren Wade added his voice to the debate, asserting that the priority must be defeating the PPP—not which party the presidential candidate comes from. “We need the best possible team, and a captain who can unite the Opposition, bring out the best in the team, and inspire the people to vote for us,” Wade said.
Columnist GHK Lall also criticised the Opposition for failing to present a united and formidable alternative to the PPP.
Despite the AFC’s withdrawal, Norton maintained that he has not closed the door to coalition politics, stating, “We are better together.” His sentiment resonates widely among Opposition supporters and the public, many of whom are fed up with petty political infighting that continues to undermine national development.
