AFC Congress opens today against a backdrop of internal wrangling -election of presidential or prime ministerial candidates not on the agenda
FACING CHALLENGES
Notably, the party’s conference, which was initially slated for October comes at a time when the party is facing challenges, some of which are expected to cause some amount of unease at today’s Conference. These include:
*Internal wrangling as a result of Ramjattan’s endorsement of Nagamootoo as the party’s presidential candidate.
*The resignations of mainstream supporters;
* The perception that it is aligned with the main Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), particularly as it relates to the divisions in the party, which has seen two faction emerging – the Ramjattan faction and the Hughes faction;
* Indications of lost support in People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) constituencies where it managed to secure something of a foothold during the 2011 elections; and
* Damning allegations that the party is practicing race politics.
The AFC leader, when contacted for a response on whether these matters would attract the attention of the party during the conference, was unavailable for comment. “I am very busy right now,” he told the Guyana Chronicle yesterday.
RESIGNATIONS
A significant loss for the party was the resignation of Sasenarine Singh, who was considered the party’s Finance Chief.
Last August, the AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes had tendered his resignation, but it was not accepted. Hughes had offered his resignation after it was reported that he was the Company Secretary of Amaila Falls Hydro Inc. However, Hughes in a release had said “the incorporation of the Amaila Falls Hydro Inc and my appointment as secretary had been a matter of public record since the incorporation of the Company in April 2009.
Prior to that, in March 2013, AFC Councillor Charrandas Persaud decided to leave the party over “recognition issues,” which were among a long list of his concerns that are yet to be addressed.
Several other members, including Dr Asquith Rose and Tarron Khemraj, had resigned from the party and joined A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), because of unresolved conflicts and differences on policy issues and decisions taken by the AFC’s current leadership.
The AFC representative on the Region 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Archie Cordis, has also parted ways with the party.
In early October this year, former AFC Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) Councillor, Haseef Yusuf, a very vocal critic of the party, was replaced by popular businessman, DevindraSookraj.
