AFC member has plenty, poignant questions for his party

Aug 31, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I am compelled to write this my second letter to the print media since this government took office in May 2015. I am much frustrated and concerned as to the way things are going under this government and especially in the AFC, which I am a member of based in Berbice.
Over the past several weeks we have heard, seen and read in the print and digital media the jiggery story of the corrupt Bond Deal made by the Hon. Minister of Health. The minister now seems to get full support of the cabinet and APNU+AFC government for having this secret and corrupted deal inked.
To my surprise, the President cannot fire the Minister, all because he is in the PNC leadership and was recently re-elected as one of the VC for the PNCR, so they cannot fire the man because he holds a top PNC position.But to my surprise the AFC is quiet on this matter. Why? The Prime Minister told us during the campaign trail, that he will be given the responsibly for domestic affairs in Guyana. It seems as if this matter is not of domestic affairs but international.
The PM should have recommend that the Minister be fired for involvinment in a corrupted\shady deal. What is the AFC position on this matter?. I truly think that after the PM came out and defended the deal, he told the AFC to shut up and allow the matter to be swept under the carpet. So the silence of the AFC speaks for itself.The AFC is dying slowly but the top brass of the party wants us as members and also its supporters to believe that the party is strong. That’s a lie; the party is heading down the drain. The PM, who fooled us to believe that he is in charge of the domestic affairs is doing nothing to enhance Guyana domestically. I hope the rest of the leaders especially the founders that are alive (Khemraj and Trotman) in the AFC will try as hard to ensure that those who remain in the AFC are being safeguarded from this domestic leader.
If the PM is in charge of such in our land, then here are a few questions for him and the AFC? Why after the resignation of Dr. Ramayya, he (PM), or the government and AFC never talked of the issue publicly? Why is it that the APNU+AFC regional councilors not supporting the Region 6 REO. Why is it that the APNU+AFC join the PPP to move a no confidence motion against the REO. Why is it that APNU+AFC neglected Berbice after 2015 elections? Why is it that the AFC is silent on important matters in Government? Why is it that the AFC is losing hundreds of members?
Why is it that youths are neglected under this government? Why is it you(PM) has no saying as to who must be fired when found corrupt? Why is it APNU members are taking advantage on the AFC in both regions 5 and 6? Why is it there is no reshuffle to the regional tender board in both regions? Why is it only a few people are getting the contracts regionally? Why is it one contractor in Region 6 is getting almost all the work? Why is it one APNU councilor is controlling the entire Region 5 affairs? There are lots more but those will be asked later, as I now plan to become a frequent letter writer.
The AFC is slowly exiting the political scene and the APNU has to be serious about 2020. In Berbice, Region 5 and 6 the AFC is losing its grounds. Everyday people are talking of the neglect of the AFC leaders. In region 5, I was told that AFC became a private group and only few people are getting invitation for meetings. Only a few are getting the attention of the leadership and those few are the ones that run from the AFC after the 2011 elections.
In Region 6 , the AFC is a scattered party, whereby members are without proper information from the leaders. The AFC MP in Region 6, since he took office never held a AFC membership meeting or shown any time for the party business. He never shows interest in assisting and listening to members of the party.
I spoke to lots of people in Regions 6 and 5 that I know are AFC members, but was told they have no interest in the party anymore. The only time that members of the AFC get to see their leaders is when they come to a government or private function in the regions. So the AFC must accept that they are losing it.
The reason for that and I have no apologies for this; is that only a few in Regions 6 and 5 use to visit all the areas before and after the elections. They are Dr. Ramayya, Sookraj, Abdulla (now with PPP) and Kim. In Region 5, Conrad Johnson, McDonald, Vanessa and Abel Seetaram. Seetaram was fired by the PM without any investigation. I was told that some in the AFC in Region 5 joined with PPP members to send the PM and top brass in the AFC executives mere allegations and complaints against the man, and they all listened and took that as facts.
Here are other questions for the PM and somewhat to the AFC. Why fire Seetaram without an investigation but cannot fire the Hon. Minister of Health who admits to the corrupted Bond deal? I was glad that the leader of the AFC and Minister of Public Security told Berbicians last Saturday night on TV that, they are humans and do make mistakes. Isn’t Seetaram a human? Was he given the opportunity to apologize and move on? Was there an investigation towards the allegations and complaints made against the man? The PM should reinstate the gentleman in saving his face or fire Dr. Norton. What goes for one, goes for all.
My advice to the APNU is to hold strong to those that the AFC are pelting away, because I can assure you all, come 2020 the AFC will bring less votes to the coalition? APNU need to rethink for 2020 because the PM and the AFC seem to be going down the drain.Start the reform now….2020 is near.
James Fraser

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