GEORGETOWN: A reliable source close to People's National Congress (PNC) strongman Robert Corbin, last evening disclosed mounting tensions between the former Leader of the Opposition and current Leader of the APNU-AFC collation, retired Brigadier General David Granger, over strategy that would determine the strength of Alliance For Change (AFC) supporters in traditional People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) strongholds.
According to the inside sources, Corbin is suspicious that AFC support base in many areas are disappearing, and had urged Granger to refrain from packing buses of APNU supporters from Georgetown and other places to build up crowds at APNU-AFC rallies. One such under scrutiny was held at Whim and Bath Settlement.
“In order to determine the true strength of AFC support in various communities Corbin is questioning AFC’s contribution to the collation, to justify the distribution of Parliamentary seats that will eventually be allocated to the Opposition,” according to the source who requested anonymity for fear of victimization.
It was noted that the Alliance for Change -AFC made inroads at Whim and Bath Settlement last election
after Moses Nagamootoo had promised a 20% increase to sugar workers. This resulted in the PPP/C having a minority government.
“But Robert Corbin seem convinced that most of that electorate have since returned their support to the PPP after the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord that formed the collation between the AFC and the PNC controlled APNU,” the source disclosed.
Corbin, according to the source, felt it was necessary to gauge his party’s strength in the traditional PNC stronghold due to growing support shown to the PPP/C in recent times.
“Corbin is also fearful of losing support to Mark Benschop’s group in South Georgetown and in Linden…. Party Leader, David Granger is adamant that he could not afford to risk low turn-outs at those rallies because this election is all about public perception, and he noted that the PPP/C has been attracting thousands of loyal supporters to their rallies…Although Granger admits that Nagamootoo seem unlikely to deliver the 11% of Indian votes he promised as part of the collation agreement, he is fearful that this fact be known publicly.”
General and Regional elections are scheduled for Monday, May 11. In addition at least four other general elections are scheduled to be held in the 15-nation Caribbean trade bloc this year.
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