By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Another executive of the smaller Parliamentary Opposition Party, the Alliance for Change (AFC), has resigned.
Attorney – at – law and Berbice campaigner Charrandas Persaud has confirmed with iNews his resignation from the party which takes effect on Thursday September 26.
“I have not been given due credit for the works I have done for the AFC… I have been taken for granted” he said.
Persaud surrender brings the toll of resignations from the AFC over the last two weeks to five. He has been a member of the AFC since July 2011.
He said regardless of what the AFC says, he was instrumental in the party gaining the national seat in Berbice in the 2011 General Elections.
“Going back to the 2011 campaign I have never been thanked for my work by the leader, I contributed to them winning the national seat in Berbice and all the millions they spent in Georgetown they didn’t even get the leg of a seat much less a seat.. Their strategy is wrong” the annoyed Persaud told iNews.
He added that he was instrumental in reducing the votes gained by the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic’s (PPP/C) in Berbice [historically a PPP/C stronghold] during the 2011 elections, but is yet to be recognized for his efforts.
“I’m at a point where I can break the PPP.. But there is simply no communication… What am I…? I feel disrespected” he added.
When asked whether he would be joining another political party, he said he is yet to decide.
“I am going to take a two weeks’ vacation and when I return ill decide.” Efforts made to contact the AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan proved futile.
Only last week three members of the AFC’s New York Chapter – Tarron Khemraj, Rab Mukraj and Asquith Rose – tendered their resignations and joined A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
It was subsequently revealed by Chairman of the AFC New York Chapter Dr.Rohan Somar that the three members wanted the AFC to join forces with APNU for the next general elections – a suggestion which was met with much resistance from other AFC members.
According Dr. Somar in a statement, the three defectors were also opposed to the AFC Parliamentarians voting in favor of the supporting Bills for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.
Meanwhile, a week prior to this episode the AFC had accepted the resignation of Dr. Shamir Andrew Ally, who was associated with the New York, AFC Chapter, following a bitter dispute.
Dr. Ally made his resignation known in the publication of a letter in one of the local newspapers on September 10. He expressed his disappointment with the AFC internally and externally.
Following these resignations which have certainly put a dent in the party, the AFC said in a previous statement that it continues to stand on the side of principle while disclosing that its defectors list continues to grow.
In his first public statement since the resignations AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes said, “Despite a growing list of detractors, we have, with the help of you, our supporters, overcome great odds to create history in the Caribbean. The AFC remains cohesive and committed to the struggle for a better Guyana.”
Hughes had also resigned from the Party as Chairman but his resignation was not accepted by the party. The effectiveness of the AFC as a third political force is now being questioned.
