AFC to launch elections campaign on January 29

The Alliance For Change said it will be launching its 2011 elections campaign two weeks hence at the Ocean View International Hotel. Boasting of an expanded membership base and riding on claims that Guyanese are disenchanted and need new leadership, the minority opposition party will launch its campaign on January 29.

The party’s campaign consultant, Salaudeen Nasrudeen, told the media that a recent study he carried out

countrywide revealed many citizens, particularly youth, women and businessmen, are calling for change. 

He reflected that the poor voter turnout in 2006 was influenced by the very things that remain unchanged today. “Conditions may have even gotten worse,” the U.S-based specialist added, “… because people from all backgrounds want change, and will be looking for change at the upcoming elections.” 

According to him, the AFC campaign will be both positive and creative, as it will seek to educate voters on critical and fundamental issues that can promote development and unity. He said the plan is to also promote and provide a glimpse of a new Guyana that will bring political stability, social harmony and economic prosperity. 

Meanwhile, AFC presidential candidate Khemraj Ramjattan is optimistic that the party has seen tremendous growth and massive support since 2006. He disclosed that the membership is now almost 8000, with representation all across Guyana. 

Questioned whether he thought Guyanese were ready to move beyond their known voting pattern, Ramjattan responded: “I believe that people are going to look to the issues rather than race and ethnicity.” 

According to him, the party might have even penetrated predominantly Indo-Guyanese-populated communities. “…they have indicated very emphatically that, yes, we have to change … we’ve been fooled,” Ramjattan said of persons living in areas such as Leguan and Albion. 

Ramjattan had said in the past that, while the goal is to win an election, reducing the ruling PPPC’s majority would be a “great achievement”. “We know the ground even better now” Ramjattan boasted. The PPP won 53 per cent of the votes in the 2006 elections, which represents a majority in the Parliament.  If the PPP loses its majority it would represent a “big step for politics in this country”, the former PPP member outlined. 

The AFC said that, if it takes power, it wants to enhance human rights fundamentally, as one method to deal with the sore issue of racial division. This is also a prominent feature of the party’s manifesto. Economic growth and stability through the encouragement of entrepreneurship and tax reductions are also featured in the party’s “action plan.”

Their drive to increase alliances with “like-minded groups or individuals” is still being advanced, and according to party leader Raphael Trotman, the immediate plan is to strengthen their approach and ensure that they are in a state of readiness: “We want to make sure we are as strong as we can be”. 

The AFC has been meeting various groups and interested persons, including trade union leaders, private citizens and defecting members of various political parties.