Dear Editor,
The upcoming national conference of the Alliance for Change will ultimately determine the survival of this young and promising political party which came on the political scene at a critical juncture in Guyana’s history.
In 2005 when the AFC was founded it was indeed a breath of oxygen. I was most impressed by the party co-founder, the late Mrs Sheila Holder. She believed that racial voting and division could be healed and economic and social prosperity could be realized, However, deep introspection needs be done and the party leaders have to rethink their strategy, since the AFC is now part and parcel of the administration.
There is widespread dissatisfaction with the way the party is moving; grassroots support is fast diminishing because many feel betrayed and abandoned. The time is now for new blood and leadership to rise up and rescue the AFC; the sweat and sacrifices of many founding members must not go in vain. The present leaders should make way for a stronger united and well-oiled party that will connect with so many Guyanese who are still to realize the good life that was promised by the coalition when it came to office.
The recent disclosure that those who have held leadership positions for two terms would be seeking a third, does not bode well for the democratic norms that are in the party’s Constitution, and while the experience of those is valued and should be retained, it must not be at the helm.
As a young Guyanese I would like to see leaders like Mr Nigel Hughes, Mr Sherod Duncan, Mr Trevor Williams, Ms Cindy Sookdeo and others lead this young party, while the likes of Mr Trotman, Mr Ramjattan, Mr Patterson and others be retained as custodians to take the AFC forward.
Our present situation here in Guyana is very worrisome; jobs, crime and security, housing and water, infrastructural amenities should be tackled head on. Many of our NDCs are failing residents, and the poor services of GPL and Guywa need to be looked at with urgency.
When any administration fails to listen to the plight of its people there is a very heavy price to be paid; we have seen it after more than 23 years of the PPP/C in office.
All members of the Alliance For Change who will head to Vreed-en-Hoop for the party’s national conference should please ensure that they all respect democratic values and norms and a simple path is crafted in taking the AFC forward.
Yours faithfully,
Andre Fortune
