AS HAD been telegraphed earlier, Nigel Hughes, senior executive of the Alliance For Change, has been retained not only as a member of his party, but also as its Chairperson. 

Since the issues surrounding his initially announced decision to resign are already known, a repeat is not appropriate here. Be it as it may, this announcement, though not altogether unexpected, is indeed contradictory to what this party has continuously espoused. In fact, it flies in the face of all the time honoured principles governing the peculiar circumstances that relates to Mr. Hughes.
But there are two very serious issues that have surfaced. Beginning  with the fact that Hughes has developed somewhat of a following, which marks him as a popular political figure. This is coupled with the fact, that he is seen within his party as  an indispensable player in its strategizing and decision making structure, lending much credibility to its attempt to present itself as an all-inclusive movement.
Adding to this is the sad conclusion that as far as party leader Khemraj Ramjattan is concerned – no ethical rules have been infringed by his Chairperson, since he plainly said that attorneys have every right to represent a client.
For all these perceived factors, Ramjattan as party leader ought to have  known  better, and accept as finit, Hughes resignation, which would have sent an unmistakable signal to the nation, that  as a party – it upholds strict principles. Therefore, Hughes has been foisted upon the party constituents, despite his ethical and moral infringements.
The second factor is the stony silence of the senior opposition party, the A Party For National Unity, APNU. It is more than interesting that this party is deaf-silenced on the AFC’S position. This is another glaring instance of its hypocrisy on an important matter that involves public morality and ethics.
As usual, this party and its junior counterpart has a well known history for vicious criticisms of the government on all manner of perceived ills. Yet, it has conveniently chosen to remain silence on a very important occurrence that drew sharp public condemnation of both the AFC and Hughes.
How can the nation trust such a party with the responsibility of government?