IN one day, there have been four resignations from opposition parties. Jermaine Figueira from the PNC, Onix Duncan from the youth arm of the AFC and two huge names in ANUG – two prominent lawyers – Timothy Jonas and Ralph Ramkarran. One word needs to be used when one writes about political resignations during the election season – deluge.

There has been a deluge of resignations in politics this past month. There have never been so many exits from political parties in such a short period of time in Guyana’s history or in the CARICOM region. The PNC has lost Daniel Seeram, Region 4 Chairman; his Deputy, Samuel Sandy; Parliamentarians Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Amanza Walton-Desir, and Jermaine Figueira, and PNC stalwart, Vanessa Kissoon.
From the AFC, the following four bigwigs exited: Parliamentarians, Sherod Duncan, Juretha Fernandes, and Ricky Ramsaroop, and AFC’s youth executive Onix Duncan. From ANUG, four lawyers have resigned: Timothy Jonas, Nadia Sagar (Mr. Jonas’ wife), Teni Housty, and Ralph Ramkarran.

Two questions are pertinent. There may be dozens of questions that are relevant but two stand out. The first one – is Guyana seeing the absolute diminution of the PNC? And then, can any party during an election campaign survive with its functionalism intact after such huge losses? I think it is easy to speculate that the PNC’s chances are not good in the upcoming elections. Two big names may shortly leave the PNC and that will add gasoline to the fire – former Mayor Ubraj Narine and attorney-at-law, Roysdale Forde.

Let’s skip over to ANUG. I caught up by phone with its leader, Dr. Mark France on the campaign trail in Region Seven. My first question to him was whether he thinks that the four lawyers have left because ANUG is now in a coalition with Azruddin’s party and there may be fear on the part of the four lawyers that those associated with Mr. Mohamed could face sanctions.

Dr. France says he does not want to speculate but he accepts the explanation, though ANUG has not gotten such an explanation from the four lawyers that consideration may have been given to the possibility of sanctions based on the relation the four lawyers may have with their clients some of whom may be foreign companies. Ms. Nadia Sagar is the legal advisor to GBTI.

I put it to Dr. France if he is aware that the broad action by the U.S. Government against Azruddin involves sanctions against those doing business with the Mohamed family. Dr. France’s position is that before the coalition was pursued with Azruddin Mohamed, advice was sought from local attorneys and foreign lawyers.

Their advice to ANUG is that individuals would only be put under the radar if there are financial transactions between ANUG and Mohamed. The legal advice received by the lawyers is that once there is no financial exchange between ANUG and Mohamed then there is no violation of the U.S. sanctions. Dr. France explains that he is talking to me while on the campaign trail and ANUG has financed their own transportation and other costs.

I then put the tricky question to the ANUG leader as to whether the US government will accept his explanation of no money being passed from Azruddin to ANUG. He had a simple reaction – “Well, let us wait and see.” So, it is quite possible that the U.S. could act against ANUG.

What I believe most people will want to know is how the U.S. is going to ascertain whether Mohamed has passed money to ANUG. And this is going to be the headache for ANUG. Is ANUG going to submit a monthly document to the US Embassy that accounts for how the money is being spent on the campaign trail?

I think ANUG may be asking for too much. Do the Guyanese people and the U.S. Embassy believe that there will be a strict separation of balance sheets between the two parties? There is of course another dimension to the resignation of the four lawyers. Even if the four attorneys refrain from announcing that fear of sanctions caused them to resign, will other people attracted to ANUG and Mohamed believe there will be no sanctions and thus will campaign with the new coalition of ANUG and Mohamed?

If I am asked that question, I will say that the exodus of the four lawyers will weaken both ANUG and Mohamed’s party because people will feel that the lawyers resigned out of fear of sanction. I don’t think people will believe the four lawyers even if they issue a disclaimer that they did not exit the party over American sanctions. It doesn’t look good for ANUG and Azruddin Mohamed. They may call it George before September 1.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.