AFC’s National Executive Conference: Party to remain in coalition as Ramjattan returned as leader

– Cathy Hughes elected Chair, Sherod Duncan new General Secretary

The Alliance For Change (AFC), which held its National Executive Conference on Saturday, has re-elected Khemraj Ramjattan as its leader and voted executive member Cathy Hughes in as Chairperson, while also taking a vote on its future in the coalition.
A total of 285 delegates and 50 observers were in attendance in six locations across Guyana and two overseas for the conference. One of the first matters on the agenda was whether the AFC should remain in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition.
The matter and its ‘Way Forward’ document, was put to the vote, with the AFC voting overwhelmingly to stay in a revised coalition or parliamentary cooperation, which was option C in the document.
The third option states that the AFC can “stay in a revised political alliance with APNU, whether coalition or a parliamentary cooperation agreement but the AFC must demand and secure a firm agreement and structure for it to have a greater influence on policy positions and political action within the alliance while maintaining its independence and rebranding and regaining its identity. This option will require political maturity and pragmatism on the part of APNU, which may not be forthcoming”.
In keeping with the vote, AFC will remain in an alliance with APNU until the expiration of the Cummingsburg Accord in December 2022, when it will be reviewed.
In the case of Ramjattan, he had been challenged by former AFC General Secretary David Patterson for the leadership. However, Patterson did not contest for any other executive position. This means that Patterson will not hold any executive position in the party, outside of the National Executive Committee.
Meanwhile, those vying for Chairmanship were Hughes, Ramjattan, Sherod Duncan and Juretha Fernandes. Hughes, who previously served as Vice Chairperson of the party, has now been elevated to the second senior position in the party – that of Chairperson.
Also elected was Ricky Ramsaroop to the position of Vice Chairman. Hughes, Fernandes and Sherod Duncan along with Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Devin Sears, were vying for the Vice Chair spot.
And lastly, Sherod Duncan was elected as General Secretary of the party. The nominations for that position included Ramjattan, Hughes, Fernandes, and Ramsaroop as well as Neilson McKenzie and Michael Carrington.
In a statement following voting, AFC explained that the day-long National Conference saw the AFC also electing 12 members to its National Executive Committee – the second-highest decision-making forum of the party. AFC further explained in its statement that the new executive body will shortly meet to co-opt additional members into its ranks.
“The new leadership body has pledged to work towards the advancement of the founding principles, increasing membership, establishing more groups, addressing concerns of members and in a more heightened manner, matters of national concern,” the statement said.
Efforts to contact the newly elected leader were futile. However, Patterson, his challenger, chalked up the loss to the democratic workings of his party. He also confirmed that he was elected in the executive committee of the party and will continue serving the party in whatever way he can.
“We’re quite pleased with how we could carry off another conference, successfully. So, I’m quite happy that we’ve completed another national conference… that’s what democracy is about. It’s a competitive process, our delegates voted and there must be someone that wins. And like I’ve always said, I’m committed to my party.”
Both Ramjattan and Patterson were nominated by eight groups each. Ramjattan, who is a founding member of the party, had previously served stints as AFC Leader and Chairman. He was re-elected as AFC Leader at the party’s last conference in 2019.