URP applauds Hughes on principled politics

Dear Editor,
Mr Nigel Hughes deserves high praise and congratulations for his principled position in resigning as Alliance For Change (AFC) Chairman. The United Republican Party (URP) hopes that Mr Hughes’ valiant resignation will motivate serious drastic changes in the coalition Government considering his first resignation over Amaila Falls was withdrawn without achieving anything positive.
The URP believes in private investments as the engine of economic growth. The URP also strongly urges that both AFC leader Mr Khemraj Ramjattan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo must become the vanguard against corruption considering they were fierce critics against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government. What have they achieved for the 11 per cent Indian votes which they boastfully delivered for the APNU/AFC coalition’s victory in May?
Guyanese are not prepared for life as usual after the change of government. For Mr Nagamootoo to keep operating as if basking in the trappings of the Prime Minister’s post is all he lives for will not cut it anymore.
Both AFC leaders must emulate Mr Hughes and must take a more positive stand against corruption. The URP believes Mr Harmon has far too much power and must either be reduced to size or dismissed outright.
The APNU/AFC coalition claimed power on the basis that Guyanese voted for change last May. But so far, all we have had is an exchange. Where is the change from public corruption?
Elected on a promise of good governance, the APNU/AFC coalition has, so far, not measured up. Too many Government activities are done stealthily and in secret. The Government has been accused of corruption and embroiled in too many controversies. What the nation has gotten so far is the elite of the APNU/AFC replacing the preceding regime.
The working class and poor have been left out of the equation. Thousands have been fired from their jobs and thousands more victimised on account of race and political affiliation. Thousands will lose their jobs if Wales Estate is closed.
As a prominent AFC leader, Mr Hughes felt he shared responsibility for the way these matters were mishandled. He wants his AFC party to be the agent of good change and rightly felt the right thing to do was to resign as Chairman of AFC.
The URP is highly satisfied that he took such a principled position. Seldom do we find Guyanese leaders, any government official or any ranking party executives resigning over improper behaviour. Mr Hughes’ action is most commendable and an example for others to emulate.
The country is now in a different era with the removal of the PPP/C at the last polls. People are looking for principled governance (accountability and transparency) with decent political behaviour. So far, only Mr Hughes has stepped up to the plate. As the URP leader, I salute and embrace Mr Hughes on these issues.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bandhu
URP Leader

Editor’s note:
Mr Nigel Hughes has since deferred his resignation and taken an indefinite leave of absence from the Alliance for Change