Patterson challenges Ramjattan for AFC leadership

General Secretary of the Alliance For Change (AFC) David Patterson will be competing against incumbent party leader Khemraj Ramjattan for the top position at the upcoming National Executive Conference (NEC) on June 11.

Patterson, who has been a member of the AFC since its formation in 2005, said he is “quite pleased and honoured” to be nominated for this position. Ramjattan, who is also a party co-founder, was also nominated to return as leader.
In an interview with this publication on Saturday, Patterson said if elected, he has “several plans which I will implement”, noting that details of such will be made available next week.
Among these plans, he explained, are on how to improve the AFC’s representation and to strengthen its party structures.

In fact, Patterson said one of the main issues the party needs to address is its physical outreaches across the country, noting that these were affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asked if there is any particular weakness within the party he would like to address as leader, Patterson said the AFC has “acknowledged” that it is in the Opposition and therefore, would work on not only improving its role as an opposition force but also on regaining power.

There have been rumours that at its upcoming NEC, the AFC will discuss the possibility of parting ways from its coalition partner, the PNC-led APNU, which it had joined forces with in 2015 to win that year’s national election.
Asked to comment on this, Patterson indicated that at the NEC, all members will give their input on the party’s way forward. “How best they see the AFC in the next two years,” he explained.
He added that this is noted limited to the party’s relationship within the coalition but other issues such as more youth memberships and policy areas.
“I’m sure that discussions will come up, how to lend our support in strengthening coalition politics because we are in a coalition…[but] it’s not a question of simply concentrating on coalition,” Patterson explained.
Meanwhile, four persons were nominated for chairmanship of the AFC. They are Members of Parliament (MPs) Ramjattan, Cathy Hughes, Sherod Duncan and Juretha Fernandes. Among those nominated for Vice Chair are MPs Ricky Ramsaroop, Devin Sears, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Duncan, Hughes and Fernandes.
When it comes to the nominations for General Secretary, Duncan, Hughes, Fernandes, Ramsaroop, Ramjattan, Neilson McKenzie and Michael Carrington were nominated.
Additionally, 55 members are competing for the 12 seats on the NEC.
The AFC said its NEC will see 285 delegates representing the ten regions in Guyana, the USA, Canada, UK, the Caribbean, the Women for Change (WFC) and the Youth For Change (YFC) in attendance and participating. Fifty observers will also attend.

Young blood
Moreover, this publication also spoke to two of the younger members of the party who are up for executive positions.
Fernandes, who also serves as a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), expressed thanks to those who nominated her.
“I’m very thankful for the confidence that persons have put forward in me by the nominations, very humbling to say the least. A lot of work to be done, as we move into the National Conference. But more importantly, a lot of work to be done moving forward. So, we’re going to put our best foot forward to make sure the AFC comes out of it altogether strong,” Fernandes said.
Sears, another young member, noted that while he is honoured by his nomination as Vice Chair of the party, his eyes are also set on being elected to the executive committee. This, he noted, is something he and his team are working towards.
“I’m actually honoured. I think I got nominated for Vice Chair from Region Six. But as it is right now, I’m (also) interested in being a National Executive member. That’s what I’m interested in at this time… I have a team that is working, reaching out to all the delegates and chapters,” Sears explained.
The NEC is the highest decision-making forum of that party, and in it delegates vote for persons to fill the executive positions of Leader, Chairman, Deputy Chairman, General Secretary, and Treasurer. This is in addition to the election of ten members to represent the 10 administrative regions of Guyana, and four members to represent the diaspora.