ALLIANCE For Change (AFC) member and former Region Five Councillor, Abel Seetaram, on Monday, resigned from the party with immediate effect.

In a letter to AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, seen by this publication, Seetaram said his decision to part ways with the AFC is a heavy-hearted one that happened after serious consideration of several matters, one which included the party’s inability to make its own decisions since joining the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in 2015.

For five years under the coalition umbrella, Seetaram said the AFC leadership allowed the PNC to make all the decisions in local and national governance.

“For five years we the members had to keep our mouths shut and allow the AFC failed leadership to handle matters which were of importance and they were all overcome by the APNU/PNC leadership. For five years the AFC leadership allows the APNU/PNC to do what they want without voicing their concerns. For five years the AFC leadership had failed to address several matters raised by its members concerning the overcoming and overpowered by the APNU/PNC,” he stated in the letter to Ramjattan.

Noting that the AFC leadership did not stand up for its members’ rights when they were being abused by PNC officials. He said decisions to close sugar estates with immediate effect, increase land and drainage rental on farmers were all supported by the AFC in Cabinet.

“We all have a heart, we have a conscience and like me, many of my AFC brothers and sisters were feeling the pain and were eaten from inside with what was going on and we can’t say anything. Well, I said what I had to and faced what I had to,” he said, pertaining to many other abuses he listed.

The former AFC official noted that the party lost its political will after five years because the leadership had failed and continue to fail the party because of self-centred motives and agendas.

“The AFC I join since its formation is no more. The PNC swallows the AFC. The AFC cannot stand anymore to represent its members nevertheless the public. It’s my firm belief that the AFC has lost its footage and strength to continue in the political arena and the leadership seems to be sucking up to everything that the PNC wants,” Seetaram stated.

He continued: “Everyone in this world makes mistakes and I am no exception but I believe that this decision to leave the AFC at this time is one of the best because the AFC fails its members since joining the coalition and continues to do so.”

He told Ramjattan in the letter that AFC members were muzzled for five long years by the PNC and it is about time to breathe and speak of the things many experienced because of the failed daily leadership.

“Over the years I also spoke up and out as to what was happening in the AFC regionally here in Region Five. To date, none of the matters raised as to regional elections have ever been addressed but simply dressed up to fit a few. I know I will be attacked by some of the national and regional leaders and members of this party, but I say to you let those without sin cast the first stone,” he stated in his resignation letter.