The Alliance For Change (AFC) may be headed towards a clash with its own constitution later this month when its delegates vote by secret ballot, to elect its leader for the next two years.
The party is mum on the fact that incumbent AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan intends to stand for re-election. In addition, current General Secretary David Patterson will also be in the fray. Both have held their positions for more than two terms.
Willing to go again – AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan
This is despite Article 19 (1) of the party’s constitution explicitly stating that no leader would be allowed to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office in the interest of “a broader activism in leadership positions by the membership”.
When contacted on Sunday, former AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes declined to give a comment on Ramjattan’s proposed re-election. He noted that it would not be appropriate for him to comment, as it would be seen as influencing the vote.
Efforts to contact Ramjattan, who is also the Public Security Minister; Patterson, who also holds the post of Public Infrastructure Minister; or Cathy Hughes, who currently heads the Telecommunications Ministry and is a potential contender for AFC leader, were futile.
Ramjattan was elected AFC Leader in 2012, his term lasting for four years or the equivalent of two terms. According to Article 7 of the party’s constitution, “A national convention shall be held every two years at a place and time decided by the National Executive Committee.”
Though Ramjattan will be looking to be re-elected to serve in the leadership capacity, he is expected to face stiff competition for the post at the upcoming elections, which will be held at the party’s National Executive Conference (NEC) later this month.
The AFC’s NEC will be hosted on January 28 at the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) – the first NEC outside of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
The NEC will include elections for the position of the party’s leader, Chairman, Vice Chairman, General Secretary and 12 National Executive Members.
The AFC was formed by Ramjattan, current Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and the late Sheila Holder, in 2005. Trotman became the leader, but a power-sharing agreement was enacted that would see the leadership being rotated.
It was with this formula, and the constitution it enacted, that the AFC contested subsequent elections. It has since been subsumed by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition, a step taken in order to contest the 2015 General Elections.
The AFC has faced criticism from political activist Dr David Hinds for its perceived silence on controversial issues, including the Ministers’ salary hike and the state of the sugar industry. According to Hinds, the party appeared to be suffering from apathy and was disconnected from its support base.
Dr Hinds had noted that after the promise of transformation it came with, the party seemed to have shifted away from its transformative agenda.
In response, the party had stated that it remained committed to change and transformation. The AFC had gone on to cite its accomplishments, such as the no-confidence motion it brought to Parliament and the step it took to partner with APNU. Hinds had subsequently described the AFC as “power drunk”.
