Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), David Patterson, has denied claims that his party engages in sexism, racism and homophobia.
Speaking at the party’s weekly press conference on Friday, Patterson said the AFC “is a free and liberal party.”
He was at the time responding to claims by the party’s Vice President (VP) for the Youth for Change (YFC) – AFC’s youth arm – Onix Duncan and Advisor to YFC, Dillon Mohamed, who recently resigned from their positions.
The duo, in their resignation letters, alleged that the AFC failed to create a space of genuine inclusion and internal engagement and cited disrespectful and homophobic behaviour towards members.
Patterson said these claims are untrue.
“It is hard to think that we can be accused of not being tolerant when we were going to enshrine the right to representation in the constitution,” he said.
He added that “while there may be internal issues, personality issues and things like that, overall as a policy of the party we have demonstrated inclusionary for all race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. We have been at the forefront of that without fear.”
The AFC has also seen resignations from three of its Members of Parliament (MP), Juretha Fernandes, Sherod Duncan, and Deonarine Ramsaroop, who joined the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
Recently, Vice Chairman of Region Ten, Mark Goring, an AFC member, tendered his resignation.
“Unlike everyone else, he did not cite any reasons,” Patterson said.
The AFC Chairman said he wishes all of the party’s former members well.
“This is a free and liberal party; we practice liberal democracies; if a member chooses to resign, if they choose to leave the party, while we obviously will be disappointed in that decision, we wish them well,” he said.
He added that “whoever has moved on, we wish them well in their future endeavours; our door has never remained closed to former and current members….”
The AFC’s former coalition partner, the PNC/APNU has also been hit with a series of resignations of senior members.
Coalition talks between the AFC and PNC/APNU for the upcoming polls have collapsed.
Both parties submitted their symbols separately to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), each signalling their intention to contest the upcoming elections independently.
A total of 22 parties have submitted symbols to contest the September 1, 2025, polls.
These parties are expected to submit their List of Candidates on July 14.
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