– Unity on the border line
– source
A SECTION of the Alliance For Change (AFC) is concerned about what it claims is a particular pattern of alienation within the party, fearing it could fracture the movement by the time general elections are held next year. The matter is likely to surface today at an AFC special meeting to trash out its thorny issue of leadership rotation within the party.
AFC sources said there is a tussle between party leader Raphael Trotman and its Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan who both have factions backing them as leader of the party and presidential candidate for the 2011 elections.
A source close to the AFC executive said the pattern of alienation has so far seen the departure of founding and critical members of the party, including attorney-at-law, Ms. Gomattie Singh and businessman, Mr. Peter Ramsaroop who both resigned.
The source also said there is mounting concern over apparent similar attempts to sideline Ramjattan because it is felt he is no longer critical and useful to the AFC.
“There are some who feel Ramjattan has done more harm than good to the AFC”, the source said.
He pointed to the recent instance in the National Assembly when Ramjattan claimed the Hansard was tampered with in relation to a matter involving Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali.
An embarrassed Ramjattan was forced to apologise to the National Assembly after the Hansard proved he had misinformed the House, the source noted.
According to the source, the small AFC is coming under severe strain from the same kind of power struggle that plunged the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) into a leadership crisis.
Over the last few weeks there have been signs of growing discontentment over the treatment of certain issues in the party and the executive has so far remained silent on these matters.
The source expressed concern for the future of the AFC, saying if the in-fighting is not managed well, the party could implode.
“There needs to be greater emphasis on in-house democracy and withdrawal of the executive arrogance displayed by Trotman, Ramjattan and Sheila Holder who seem to be the reservoir of all ideas within the AFC”, he suggested.