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The past AFC leadership must be commended
Dear Editor,
At the last AFC National Conference that was held on January 28th, 2017 in Region 3, we saw changes in the entire leadership of the party. We saw a new leadership being put in place along with the 12 National Executive Committee (NEC) members. I wish all those elected well and hope that they will serve in the best interest of the party so that it can move forward. But we must not forget those that were there before in the leadership and NEC that worked for the betterment of the party. We must remember the commitment shown by those in the past. We must remember the struggles and sacrifices they made before 2015 elections and also after.
But in any political party that gets into power, there will be fight for leadership and positions. As I said before and will say again, that before 2015, only a few was interested in the leadership and NEC of the party. Why? Because the party wasn’t in government and they had to use their own resources and time to do the party work. But now we see people who are hardly known to the Guyanese have gain positions within the leadership of the party including the NEC.
I must tell those elected that the task ahead is not easy. Seeing a man in the pond catching fish may look easy from the outside, but when you get in it is a whole different story. This is when the trouble starts because the fish may not come your way as expected.
I will like to publicly thank a few that were in the leadership of the party before and after 2015 and are still there and have shown the commitment for the betterment of the party. But before I do so, let me say thank to the founders of the party for giving Guyanese hope towards a brighter future by forming the AFC.
Firstly, I will like to take the opportunity to publicly commend the Minister of Public Infrastructure Hon. David Patterson MP for works he has done within the AFC as General Secretary. Secondly, I will like to thank the Minister of Public Security Hon. Khemraj Ramjattan MP for the strong, dedicated and reliable leadership he has provided to the AFC over the years. Your leadership qualities have rocked many in the political arena by being straight forward with your no-nonsense personality in the work of the party.
Thirdly, I must thank the Hon. Minister of Business Hon. Dominic Gaskin for providing the party with much needed assistance in the form of his expertise and work as the Treasurer of the party. I must also thank the Prime Minister Hon Moses Nagamootoo for bringing strength into the AFC and its Leadership. Since Mr. Nagamootoo came to the AFC many more people became committed and join the fight for change in Guyana. Mr. Nagamootoo has done us proud in the AFC and I wish that he will continue in the struggle for a better Guyana.
Some of the other people that I know have done the AFC proud are; Hon. Cathy Hughes, Hon. Valerie Low, Mr. Nigel Hughes (former chairman), Dr. Ramayya (former executive and member), Mr. Neilson Mackenzie and MP, Michael Carrington. During their tenure in the various positions of the party, they have shown their dedication, use their resources and energy towards making the AFC strong and committed to the struggle for a better Guyana.
Many may want their names to also be included but politics is not about getting your name and picture in the papers and on the newscast. It’s about the struggle, fight and commitment shown by being a foot soldier, by walking the walk and talking the talk, by standing up for the people that need representation.
It’s about being yourself and speaking up for the people no matter what comes your way. It’s about reaching out to the people and standing with them. It’s about telling the leadership when they are wrong and what needs to be done. I have seen that in the people I mentioned. I have seen the zeal and passion in them before the AFC became part of a government.
I personally had and still have ups and downs with some of them but that will not make me not want to thank them for their work in the party. I will continue to speak up for the people that need justice and representation. I hope that the new leadership is willing to accept my critiques at times. Politics is not a smooth road.
Abel Seetaram
Region 5
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