DESPITE Moses Nagamootoo’s assurance that the Alliance For Change (AFC) wanted more debates organised by the National Communications Network (NCN), that party absconded from the October 16, 2012 segment which dealt with claims of corruption and conflicts of interest against opposition members. In a Kaieteur News article on September 24, 2012, Nagamootoo applauded the initiative of the NCN debates and urged its continuation. A few weeks later, the AFC absconded from the debate that dealt with serious matters of public concern regarding several issues of conflict of interest involving its ‘own’  leaders.
      

DESPITE Moses Nagamootoo’s assurance that the Alliance For Change (AFC) wanted more debates organised by the National Communications Network (NCN), that party absconded from the October 16, 2012 segment which dealt with claims of corruption and conflicts of interest against opposition members. In a Kaieteur News article on September 24, 2012, Nagamootoo applauded the initiative of the NCN debates and urged its continuation. A few weeks later, the AFC absconded from the debate that dealt with serious matters of public concern regarding several issues of conflict of interest involving its ‘own’  leaders.
      
An official from NCN confirmed, that particular segment was postponed on four consecutive occasions to facilitate the AFC’s participation but, at the end, no representative from that party appeared on the panel.
      
The official said that it accommodated the AFC’s request to have one of its representatives observe the feedback desk through which members of the public were sending comments and questions during the debate. The opposition had criticised the feedback segment of the debate, saying it was stage-managed and was not a true reflection of the concerns of the public. NCN insisted the feedback segment was legitimate and without interference.
      
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) exited after the first debate in which its Member of Parliament Carl Grenedge appeared.
      
However what was intended to be a debate evolved into a discussion moderated by Al Creighton with a panel comprising Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and PPP/C Member of Parliament Manzoor Nadir on allegations of corruption and conflicts of interest involving  several  AFC leaders, including Nagamootoo, Khemraj Ramjattan and Nigel Hughes, among others.
      
The two-man panel, during the discussion, made references to claims of corruption against Nagamotoo in the NICIL contract he had secured in which there were allegations of him double-charging for the relocation of residents for the construction of the Berbice Bridge. Several other allegations were levelled at Nagamoottoo which were deemed conflicts of interest.
      
Allegations against Ramjattan also surfaced, involving claims of him swindling a client of his  property and his illegal sale of his duty-free privilege. Several examples of what appeared to be extortion by AFC leaders were also cited.
      
The question is being asked resoundingly whether the AFC’s absence was out of the fear of facing allegations involving its leaders, which implicate their integrity and characters.
      
Many viewed the NCN debate series as a success and have been requesting a continuation of the debates which focus on important national issues of corruption. NCN said it was about to commence a two-part series on claims of discrimination and was looking forward to the support of all the parties it has invited.
      
NCN said the public has been involved in determining the focus of the debates, hence its focus on allegations of corruption and conflicts of interest among opposition members