AFC leadership instability may be a turn-off for electorate
Written by
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 03:11
Source - Guyana Chronicle
POLITICAL analysts believe the leadership instability rocking the Alliance For Change (AFC) could seriously hurt its chances at the upcoming national and regional elections.
Raphael Trotman on Saturday accepted the nomination as Sheila Holder’s replacement for that party’s Prime Ministerial candidacy.
Holder exited the elections race last week on the ground of ill-health. Trotman last year refused to be Khemraj Ramjattan’s running mate citing ‘health and personal reasons’.
Analysts say the AFC’s leadership crisis will force the electorate to reflect on their seeming inability to govern, though it is clear that party will lose seats anyway at the upcoming elections.
Over the last year, a number of leadership battles has plagued the AFC. Businessman Peter Ramsaroop, after a few months, resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the party making known his differences with Ramjattan. Several other members left the AFC, including Attorney-at-law Gomattie Singh and former parliamentarian Shantell Smith among others.
“The high-intensity tension engulfing the AFC in an election year could be a major distraction, especially given it is a small, young party and the vulnerability for collapse is greater,” analysts believe.
Insiders said the AFC has been split into two rival camps backing Trotman and Ramjattan in a leadership division closely mirroring that which has left the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in disarray.
The PNCR has been split into several camps over repeated challenges to Robert Corbin’s leadership; and the AFC, which emerged from Trotman’s defection from the PNCR, is heading down the same road, sources projected.
AFC insiders said Trotman’s backers still wants him to lead the party into the elections, but those supporting Ramjattan have staunchly opposed the bid.
The AFC had said that in the interest of maintaining ethnic harmony within the party, it also agreed to put in place a standing panel to deal with issues related to ethnic relations, diversity, ethics and compliance for members within the AFC.
Trotman is a former senior PNCR member who defected to form his own party while Ramjattan is a defector from the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
Written by
Wednesday, 21 September 2011 03:11
Source - Guyana Chronicle
POLITICAL analysts believe the leadership instability rocking the Alliance For Change (AFC) could seriously hurt its chances at the upcoming national and regional elections.
Raphael Trotman on Saturday accepted the nomination as Sheila Holder’s replacement for that party’s Prime Ministerial candidacy.
Holder exited the elections race last week on the ground of ill-health. Trotman last year refused to be Khemraj Ramjattan’s running mate citing ‘health and personal reasons’.
Analysts say the AFC’s leadership crisis will force the electorate to reflect on their seeming inability to govern, though it is clear that party will lose seats anyway at the upcoming elections.
Over the last year, a number of leadership battles has plagued the AFC. Businessman Peter Ramsaroop, after a few months, resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the party making known his differences with Ramjattan. Several other members left the AFC, including Attorney-at-law Gomattie Singh and former parliamentarian Shantell Smith among others.
“The high-intensity tension engulfing the AFC in an election year could be a major distraction, especially given it is a small, young party and the vulnerability for collapse is greater,” analysts believe.
Insiders said the AFC has been split into two rival camps backing Trotman and Ramjattan in a leadership division closely mirroring that which has left the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in disarray.
The PNCR has been split into several camps over repeated challenges to Robert Corbin’s leadership; and the AFC, which emerged from Trotman’s defection from the PNCR, is heading down the same road, sources projected.
AFC insiders said Trotman’s backers still wants him to lead the party into the elections, but those supporting Ramjattan have staunchly opposed the bid.
The AFC had said that in the interest of maintaining ethnic harmony within the party, it also agreed to put in place a standing panel to deal with issues related to ethnic relations, diversity, ethics and compliance for members within the AFC.
Trotman is a former senior PNCR member who defected to form his own party while Ramjattan is a defector from the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).