The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) disclosed during a press engagement on Monday that it will contest the upcoming elections as part of a grand coalition or by itself. The party also revealed that it is already working on its manifesto.
According to its Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds, the WPA’s platform will focus on the equitable distribution of oil revenues, the empowerment of the poor and powerless through measures such as cash transfers, improved access to education, universal healthcare, and constitutional reform.
The party also noted that it will focus on the diversification of the economy to avoid overdependence on oil and gas and revising all instruments related to the oil and gas sectors.
Dr. Hinds was keen to note that coalition talks between the WPA and the PNC/APNU were paused, pending the APNU-AFC negotiations. With the two largest opposition factions failing to agree on a marital arrangement, the WPA will now resume its discussions.
Dr. Hinds said, “WPA intends to place a common policy program and electoral strategy at the top of the agenda. Our approach to coalition talks would be guided by fraternalism, independence, and realism.”
With respect to the top of the ticket, he said the WPA intends to stick with the formulae adopted at the 2011, 2015 and 2020 elections, whereby the presidential candidacy is occupied by the party with potentially the largest electoral reach and capacity. Similarly, the latter party would be accorded the largest proportion of the list of candidates, potential parliamentary seats and cabinet ministers should the coalition be victorious.
“WPA would not seek to influence who the other party or parties put up as their standard bearers. WPA reserves the right to determine who represents our party in the positions awarded to us,” he said.
