The Alliance for Change (AFC), as part of a continuing bid to extend its influence and capacity, yesterday opened the doors of its Region Four office, at the corner of Joseph Pollydore Street and Vlissengen Road, Lodge.
According to an AFC representative, even though the party already has a presence in each region, this undertaking will ensure that Region Four has a management committee. It is the party’s intention to have such an office and committee in every administrative region in the country, the representative added.
The office will house the AFC’s Management Committee for Demerara-Mahaica, including AFC executive members from the East Bank and East Coast Demerara as well as Georgetown. This, it was said, will ensure that the party administration is more decentralised, allowing for better engagement and impact on the communities in which these offices are found.
The ceremony was attended by AFC leaders such as Member of Parliament (MP) Moses Nagamootoo, Chairman Nigel Hughes and General Secretary David Patterson.
Patterson lauded the move by his party, stating that it was a good step en-route to strengthening the regional body. He said the party has every intention over a two-month period to open other such offices in the rest of the regions of Guyana. “There is a need for change in the way things are done. As such, we are working towards a more dynamic, energetic and systematic way of doing things,” he said.
Its purpose, he added, making reference to the newly set up office, is to allow the people of the community to go in and solicit assistance with whatever issue they are being plagued.
The party also indicated that in addition to the usual services provided it will be undertaking an initiative to clean and beautify the areas surrounding each of the regional offices. Approval has already been given by the Mayor of Georgetown to begin cleaning and beautification projects in the surrounding areas of the city.
A party representative also said that this move disproves claims being made by some that the AFC only exists to serve the interests of the rich. “The very geographical location of this office speaks volumes on this matter,” he added.
Hughes declared that this new office will be a “centre for change towards excellence.” In his address, he stated that the establishment was a sign that the AFC is “expanding its wings, and strategically placing itself in the heart of communities that need it, communities that have for too long been deprived of opportunities.”
Nagamootoo, in his address, highlighted the fact that the area holds some amount of significance, recalling that it was not too far away that Walter Rodney had stood up against the Burnham regime. He said this time in Guyanese history represented a turning point in the way politics was practiced.
He joined with Hughes in declaring that by this action, the AFC has injected itself into the very heart of Georgetown, and promised that the AFC will remain committed to fighting the great injustices being meted out to so many Guyanese citizens. Nagamootoo particularly singled out areas in Essequibo, such as Red Village, as being neglected and vowed that the AFC will do all that it can to assist.
The AFC has also established its ‘Free Service Clinic,’ which according to Hughes will provide free legal and other services to the general public. “For the first time in the history of Guyana, Guyanese will have access to lawyers, civil rights leaders, and programme organisers, all of whom will be more than willing to render whatever services they can,” he said.
