FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL

Feb 03, 2017 Editorial, Features / Columnists

At the just concluded Alliance for Change (AFC) 5th Biennial Conferenc, its leader and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan told the delegates that despite joining APNU, the AFC has not lost its identity.
He reminded them that the AFC was founded as a third force to wrestle power away from the two dominant parties, the PPP and the PNC. It did so against the PPP in 2011 and finally in 2015. He reiterated that the goal of the AFC was to reduce the deep ethnic division in the country which has ravaged the nation for over six decades.
He called on the delegates to be matured and that the AFC should not be seen as a rival to APNU. The one-day Conference was held at the Vreed-en-Hoop Primary School on Saturday January 28, under the theme, “In Unity; Improving Governance; Focused on the Vision.”
Having entered office in an alliance with APNU, and holding senior Cabinet positions, including the Prime Minister-ship and several seats in Parliament, the AFC leader praised himself and his colleagues for their performance as cabinet ministers and claimed that they have lived up to public expectations.
He told the delegates that even though the party has collated with APNU, it remains a force for change from the racial politics of the two main parties.
In a keenly contested election, Raphael Trotman narrowly defeated the incumbent leader, Khemraj Ramjattan by two votes. The General Secretary, David Patterson, was defeated by the relatively unknown AFC member, Marlon Williams. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who did not seek re-election as the Vice Chairman, was appointed an elder statesman of the party.
In the period leading up to the Conference, both Ramjattan and Patterson were at odds with Trotman over Article 19 (1) of the AFC Constitution which prohibits a leader from seeking a third term after serving for two consecutive terms. Lest we forget, in 2010, Ramjattan had opposed Trotman who after serving two consecutive terms as leader of the AFC had wanted to seek a third. But in his attempt to seek a third term as leader of the AFC at the party conference in 2017 Ramjattan changed his position. He claimed that Article 19 (1) of the AFC Constitution does not bar a leader from seeking a third term after serving two consecutive terms.
His reversed stance did not sit well with many of the delegated and some executive members of the party.
Ramjattan insists that the AFC is a powerful voice in the coalition, despite the widely held perception is that the AFC has been subsumed by APNU. It is involved in the major decision-making process of the government.
The leaders say that the AFC is still a viable third force.
Since in office, the AFC has addressed the lack of transparency and accountability by the government, the level of corruption and the lethargic approach to constitutional reform. It has not remained silent on the code of conduct for government officials.
The arrangements for the drug bond, the controversial trip to China by Minister Joseph Harmon , have been issues used to test the sincerity of the political party.
Its new leader, Mr. Trotman must ensure the grassroots supporters that the AFC is not sidelined by APNU. It has stuck to its original mandate of bringing about change in the country. Yet Trotman faces the difficult task of finding even more ways to make the AFC relevant. But it remains a viable and credible third force.

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