Dear Editor,
At the last AFC National Conference on January 28 in Region 3, we saw changes in the entire leadership of the party. We saw a new leadership being put in place along with the 12 NEC members. I wish all those elected well and hope that they will serve in the best interest of the party so that it can move forward.
But we must not forget those who were there before and who worked for the betterment of the party. We must remember the commitment, struggles and sacrifices they made before and after the 2015 elections. But in any political party that gets into power, there will be fights for leadership and positions. Before 2015 few were interested in the leadership and NEC of the party because it wasn’t in government and they had to use their own resources and time to do party work. But now we see people who are hardly known to Guyanese on the ground have gained positions within the leadership of the party.
The task ahead for those elected is not easy. Seeing a man in the pond catching fish may look easy from the outside, but when you get in it’s a whole different story. This is when the trouble starts because the fish may not come your way as expected.
I would like to publicly thank a few who were in the leadership before, but before I do so let me say thanks to the founders of the party for giving Guyanese the hope of a brighter future by forming the AFC.
Firstly, I would like to commend the Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson for the work he has done as AFC General Secretary. Secondly, I thank the Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan for the strong, dedicated and reliable leadership he has provided to the AFC over the years. His leadership qualities have rocked many in the political arena because he is straightforward and has a no-nonsense personality in terms of the work of the party. Thirdly, I must thank Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin for providing the party with much needed assistance in the form of his expertise and work as Treasurer.
I must also thank the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo for bringing strength to the AFC and its leadership. Since Mr Nagamootoo came to the AFC many more people became committed and joined the fight for change in Guyana. Mr. Nagamootoo has done us proud and I hope that he will continue the struggle for a better Guyana.
Some of the other people who I know have done the AFC proud are Ms Cathy Hughes, Ms Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Mr Nigel Hughes (former chairman), Dr Ramayya (former executive and member), Mr Neilson Mckenzie and Mr Carrington.
Many others may want their names to be included, but politics is not about getting your name and picture in the papers and on the newscasts. It’s about the struggle, fight and commitment shown by being a foot soldier. By walking the walk and talking the talk. By standing up for the people who need representation. It’s about being yourself and speaking up for the people no matter what comes your way. It’s about telling the leadership when they are wrong and what needs to be done. I have seen that in the people I mentioned. I have seen the zeal and passion in them before the AFC became part of a government.
I personally had and still have ups and downs with some of them, but that will not make me not want to thank them for their work in the party. I will continue to speak up for the people who need justice and representation. I hope that the new leadership is willing to accept my critiques at times.
Politics is not a smooth road.
Yours faithfully,
Abel Seetaram
Region 5
