CHARLES Sugrim has been elected President of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Queens Chapter (NY). Its Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held recently, and the returning officer, Dr Euclid Rose, in declaring the results of the elections, announced that Sugrim was elected President; Leyland Chitlal Roopnarine was elected Vice-President, and Sasenarine Singh was elected Secretary.Other persons elected to serve in the party structure were as follows: Collin Haynes, elected as Treasurer/Director of Communications and Director of Youth Affairs; Rajesh Singh (Paul Harald), as Director of Fund Raising; and Jean Ram and Margaret Sihdahnie, as Co-Directors of Women’s Affairs.

During the AGM, a work plan for the next 12 months was developed. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Alliance said: “As one of the three official chapters of the AFC in North America, the AFC Queens Chapter would want to intensify its outreach to the some 100,000 Guyanese in the Queens area, to stimulate the diaspora to act as an incubator for foreign direct investment and financial inflows into Guyana.”

Those present at the meeting committed to a membership drive to help with the critical work needed between now and the Local Government Elections. Primarily, the Queens Chapter will be looking to raise funds to assist the AFC with its contribution to the political construct in those elections.

Additionally, the Chapter is seeking to be more proactive in discussing issues affecting the Queens Community. It also seeks to conduct socially uplifting projects here in Guyana, starting with a clothes drive to assist the poor.

“All members were asked to spread the word, and to deposit their used clothing [at] the offices at Imperial Home Reality at 12810, 111th Ave in South Ozone Park in Queens. These non-winter clothing will be shipped to Guyana before Christmas, and [will be] distributed to the poor and underprivileged.”

The hosting of a seminar in Queens is another project which has been identified, and will create a platform for persons in the area to be updated on developments in Guyana.

“It is hoped that the feedback from this diaspora community shall seek to enhance the relationship between the Diaspora and Georgetown in developing the homeland. There are plans to worker closer with the Guyana Consulate. We are in full support of any move to relocate the Guyanese Consulate to the Queens area.”
A special emphasis will be placed on expanding AFC membership among the youths and women, with two special teams being formed under the leadership of Collin Haynes and Jean Ram and Margaret Sihdahnie to develop these two very important constituencies.

The AFC Queens President and Vice-President will work along with vibrant leader Ms. Asha Balbachan in playing a strong role in the nation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Committee.