–welcomes US-sanctioned Mohamed into the race for office

EXCLUDED from the recently announced partnership between the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the Alliance For Change (AFC) has officially announced that it will be contesting the September 1 General and Regional Elections, and will be forging alliances with “like-minded” individuals to contest.

This was disclosed by AFC chairman, David Patterson, during the party’s Friday press conference, when asked whether the party is considering the possibility of partnerships with other parties or individuals.

Patterson said that as the name of the party suggests, they intend to have “alliances” heading into the elections.

“The name of our party since our establishment is alliance, and we will be having alliances with persons, like-minded persons, to contest the 2025 elections,” Patterson said.

Further to this, the party was questioned by members of the media, specifically about US-sanctioned businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, throwing his hat in the race and whether the AFC believes this will take away from their support base.

To this end, the Leader of the AFC, Nigel Hughes, stated that he welcomes Mohamed into the election cycle as it gives the electorate a wider range of choices.

He said: “I welcome Mr Mohamed, which means I welcome the competition and I welcome it for many reasons, but particularly because it gives other persons a choice and it forces us to improve our game.”

Last year June, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on businessmen Nazar and his son Azruddin Mohamed, along with their companies for alleged gold smuggling, money laundering and tax evasion.

Questioned whether the AFC has engaged in talks with Mohamed for a possible coalition heading into the elections, he said that his party has not engaged in any discussions.

However, while he did not rule out any possible collaboration with the businessman, Hughes said that there are three months ahead on the road to the election and indicated that he cannot predict the future.

He went on to add that whatever is in the “best interest of Guyana,” he will endeavour to support and participate[in].