AFC splinters as 3 MPs cross over to PNC

…Juretha Fernandes tipped to be the opposition leader’s running mate

Members of the Alliance for Change (AFC) Juretha Fernandes, Sherod Duncan and Ricky Ramsaroop have signed onto the list of candidates for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to contest the upcoming elections, with Fernandes tipped to be the prime ministerial candidate.
In addition to Fernandes and her fellow AFC colleagues in Parliament, well-placed sources have indicated that Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd and former Deputy Commissioner of Police Paul Williams are also on the APNU candidate slate.

Todd, a former member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) who was first admitted to the bar in 2012, is known for his legal advocacy. His most well-known clients include PNC/R Scrutineer Carol Smith-Joseph and the 15-year-old girl who was charged with starting the 2023 fire at the Mahdia dorm that killed 20 persons. He is also currently the legal representative of the family of the late 11-year-old Adriana Younge.
Meanwhile, Williams is a retired career police officer who was appointed as deputy commissioner in 2018 by former President David Granger and was head of the force’s administrative division. Prior to that appointment, he served as Deputy Commander, Commander, Force Training Officer and Crime Chief.

The news of these massive party shifts comes on the heels of PNC MP Amanza Walton-Desir’s resignation from the party. In her resignation, she cited the fact that the party had been side-lining her from critical meetings and campaign events. Further, she had gone on to launch her own party, Forward Guyana.
According to a senior member of the PNC, Walton-Desir’s resignation, while a blow to the party, particularly with elections around the corner, would ultimately not hinder them. Under the condition of anonymity, the well-placed source noted that the PNC has a track record of bouncing back from such turmoil.

“The timing is important. It’s still early in the campaign, especially for Nomination Day. It is a blow because of the people she attracts. But I think in the coming days, definitely the party will now up its game to counter that. The PNC always becomes stronger when there’s an internal issue. It serves to energise the base,” the source said.
However, Duncan did make a social media post in which he implied that he had no intention of resigning from the AFC, despite being an APNU candidate and credible reports that he had subscribed to membership of the party.

“As I was saying, my membership in the AFC is paid up until 2029, and I do not intend to determine my membership before that time. I have been working with our Coalition partners for the last ten years, and I intend to further lend my energies to the APNU Coalition to win the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections,” he said on his page.

Membership cancelled
However, even as Duncan claimed that he had no intention of resigning from the AFC, the party issued a statement saying that the AFC had reached out to the defecting trio, seeking answers on their status with the party. While they did not respond, AFC noted that they were able to verify that all three had officially subscribed to APNU membership, and as a consequence, they have been booted from the AFC party.
“The Alliance for Change, guided by its Constitution and principles, considers that the three have chosen to forfeit their membership of the Party and has therefore formally cancelled their membership,” the AFC said, going on to wish them well in their future endeavours.
APNU is a coalition grouping which comprises the Peoples National Congress (PNC) as its major stakeholder, as well as the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) headed by Dr David Hinds. Over the past few months, APNU’s efforts to reach another coalition agreement with AFC, its coalition partner when it contested the 2015 election, have floundered.
The 2025 general and regional elections are set for September 1. Nomination Day has already been announced for July 14, 2025, which will allow for the submission of Lists of Candidates for the upcoming General and Regional Elections.
On the designated day, the Chief Election Officer (CEO) will be available to receive the lists between the hours of 10:00 (10am) and 14:00 (2pm) at the Umana Yana, High Street, Kingston, Georgetown.
Several important deadlines accompany the submission of these lists. The following day, July 15, is reserved for notifying the CEO in writing of any death or withdrawal of a candidate. Also on this day, the CEO will inform representatives and their deputies of any defects found in submitted lists.
By July 17, corrected lists must be submitted, and further notification of any withdrawals must also be made. On July 18th, the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) will issue notifications regarding the approval or non-approval of the candidate lists.
Parties dissatisfied with disapprovals may lodge appeals with the High Court by July 20th.
On July 21, representatives and their deputies must inform the CEO in writing of any joinder of lists. The entire process culminates on July 23 with the gazetting of the approved lists.
The notice was issued under the hand of GECOM Chairperson, Justice of Appeal (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, and dated June 2nd, 2025.