As political preparations intensify ahead of the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections, the Alliance For Change (AFC) has confirmed the defection of three of its former executive members—Sherod Duncan, Juretha Fernandes, and Deonarine “Ricky” Ramsaroop—who have now officially aligned themselves with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
The party has also renewed efforts to rekindle a coalition agreement with APNU, despite failed attempts earlier this year.

In a press release issued by the AFC, the party stated that it had written to the three former members seeking clarification about their status. After receiving no response and conducting its own verification, the AFC confirmed that the individuals had formally subscribed to membership with APNU and had been named as candidates on that party’s list for the upcoming elections. As a result, the AFC has cancelled their membership, citing constitutional grounds and party principles.

The defection has sent ripples through the opposition landscape, with Fernandes reportedly being tipped as APNU’s Prime Ministerial candidate—a significant development given her previous public denial of any such offers. In April, Fernandes had said, “The leader of the opposition, Aubrey Norton, or the PNCR can’t offer me the prime ministerial position. It is not a possibility. I am not a member of the PNCR.” Her apparent reversal has now sparked fresh debate over the fluid nature of internal party negotiations and allegiances.

Amidst the internal shake-up, the AFC has quietly renewed coalition talks with APNU. On May 17, 2025, the party submitted a fresh proposal through an intermediary, signaling a willingness to compromise in an effort to form a united front for the elections. The key components of the draft agreement include: Presidential Candidate: To be nominated by APNU; Prime Ministerial Candidate: To be nominated by AFC; Seat Allocation Ratio:

65% APNU, 35% AFC; Representative of the List: An independent nominee acceptable to both parties; and Speaker of the National Assembly: To be nominated by AFC, but acceptable to APNU
The proposal reflects a significant shift in AFC’s stance. During earlier talks, the AFC had reportedly demanded a higher percentage of seat allocation—suggested to be closer to 65 per cent —a demand that was viewed as a major stumbling block to the initial coalition agreement. Sources close to the discussions indicated that the AFC has now halved its original demand, which could signal a serious bid to salvage an alliance with the PNC-led coalition.

However, the AFC leadership has remained tight-lipped about the renewed proposal. Repeated efforts to contact party officials for confirmation or clarification have so far been unsuccessful.
Earlier this year, the AFC’s attempts to forge a coalition with the PNC/R collapsed after weeks of discussions failed to yield consensus. At the time, AFC Chairman David Patterson said the party had exhausted all avenues for a mutually beneficial arrangement and decided to contest the elections independently.

Yet, the recent defections appear to have forced a recalibration. AFC Leader Nigel Hughes recently revealed that in earlier negotiations, the party had already agreed to accept Norton as the presidential nominee—a “major step forward for compromise,” he noted. “We proposed that the leader of the list be a jointly agreed-upon individual to assure shared accountability and fair representation,” Hughes told reporters. He added that while Norton’s name was among those suggested, the full proposal with its conditions had ultimately been rejected by APNU.
The latest developments mark a turbulent phase for the AFC, which now faces both the loss of prominent members and the pressure to re-establish its relevance through strategic partnerships.