THE Alliance of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) is “trying desperately to create diversions” from the fact that the smaller AFC has been hit by a number of resignations, since the two parties coalesced.This is the view of People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee who commented on the matter on Tuesday at the Party’s weekly press conference, which was held at Freedom House.

“The Opposition is trying desperately to create diversions from the series of high profile resignations that hit the AFC, as the hemorrhaging continues over the formalisation of its union with the PNC, as Guyanese far and wide are continuing to register their displeasure with the AFC’s betrayal of those who fell for its promise of change,” he said.
Rohee’s comments follow what he deemed a “harsh” statement over the announcement of Elisabeth Harper as the Party’s prime ministerial candidate.
According to him, the alliance is also attempting to divert attention from the fact that it has been saddled with allegations of financial impropriety.
“It also comes at a time when the AFC continues to be confronted with improper financial practices, more so, the misappropriation of millions of dollars in campaign donations, allegations of electoral rigging and cronyism raised publicly by members and former members who, up until recently, held high profile positions within the AFC,” he said.
Recently, days after the former AFC General Secretary, Sixtus Edwards resigned from the party; another member publicly issued his resignation and has alleged that the recent decision to form a coalition with APNU was one made by a ‘gang of five’, without the authorisation of its membership. Attorney-at-Law Balwant Persaud, speaking at a press conference, vowed to do everything in his power to ensure the AFC does not come to power and has in fact now endorsed the People’s Progressive Party/Civic(PPP/C), the party, he said, for which he will now campaign.
Prior to that the AFC was hit by the resignation of Sasenarine Singh, who was considered the party’s Finance Chief.
In August 2013, AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes had tendered his resignation, but it was not accepted. Hughes had offered his resignation after it was reported that he was the Company Secretary of Amaila Falls Hydro Inc. However, Hughes in a release had said “the incorporation of the Amaila Falls Hydro Inc. and my appointment as secretary had been a matter of public record since the incorporation of the company in April 2009”.
Before that, in March 2013, AFC Councillor Charrandas Persaud decided to leave the party over “recognition issues,” which were among a long list of his concerns that are yet to be addressed.
Several other members, including Dr Asquith Rose and Tarron Khemraj, had resigned from the party and joined A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), because of unresolved conflicts and differences on policy issues and decisions taken by the AFC’s current leadership.
The AFC representative on the Region 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Archie Cordis, has also parted ways with the party.
In early October this year, former AFC Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) Councillor, Haseef Yusuf, a very vocal critic of the party, was replaced by popular businessman, Devindra Sookraj.
All considered, Rohee made it clear that despite the criticisms levelled by the Opposition, the Party remains “strong and confident”, that come May 11, 2015, Guyanese will once again chose progress over promises and vote solidly for the PPP/Civic.
“As the largest and most experienced political party in Guyana, the People’s Progressive Party and by extension the PPP/Civic has a strong, unblemished record and therefore need not to descend into desperation, unlike the APNU-AFC, which is clutching at straws,” he said.