The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Alliance for Change (AFC) will meet next month to finalise arrangements for the holding of the party’s National Conference.
AFC General Secretary (GS) David Patterson told a press conference on Friday that the biennial conference will be delegates only in deference to COVID-19 protocols.
“Our constitution initially allowed us 375 delegates that has now risen to 405 with the inclusion of delegates from Youth for Change and Women for Change as well as overseas delegates…we are trying to find a method during these COVID-19 times to host more than 400 persons…we have looked at options of a hybrid system with some members able to log on virtually [and] at several other options as well. The NEC conference will narrow down these options,” Patterson explained, before adding that all regions have been prepared and are working towards the holding of the event this year.
The National Conference, which was last held in June 2019, is used to elect the AFC’s leadership. The party is currently a part of the main opposition coalition APNU+AFC, which was voted out of office last year.
Last November, Patterson announced that the conference would be held in July this year. At the time, he indicated that he would be relinquishing his positions as GS and a parliamentarian.
“At this conference all leadership positions including that of the General Secretary will be up for elections. I have agreed to remain at General Secretary until the National Conference, under the understanding that my time will be exclusively dedicated to refocusing the energies of the AFC,” he explained at the time.
Additionally he indicated that a process had begun to identify a suitable replacement for him in the National Assembly.
“I had previously indicated that my seat should be rotated, thus allowing for newer members to gain experience in the Parliament. This position remains,” he said.
Patterson had submitted a resignation from both posts in September after a split between APNU and the AFC over the election of the Vice Chairman of the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
