AFC says will contest 2025 elections with ‘strong team’

Nigel Hughes, the Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), has officially declared the party’s intention to contest the 2025 General and Regional Elections, saying it will with “an extremely strong team” that will feature several “surprises”.

“We will be focusing on several things and this is not necessarily the order of priority – cost of living, governance, indigenous development and indigenous land rights, education, complete health reform, adjustment in the taxation, and, of course, we will also be addressing the issue of infrastructural development.

“We have a lot of new modern innovative ideas that we will be disclosing over the next course of 4-5 days.”

He said the AFC looks forward to the elections and is confident in its participation.

Hughes also emphasised the party’s commitment to maintaining high standards of discourse throughout the election campaign.

“Let us debate about policies and performance and not get distracted by other events that perhaps will not put us in a favourable light as the country ought to be,” Hughes stated.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the AFC, David Patterson said the party will ensure better governance and transparency in the oil and gas sector. He spoke about revisiting oil contracts, enforcing environmental regulations, and implementing baseline surveys.

Regarding a coalition with APNU, the AFC’s leader explained that while the party made efforts toward a combined opposition, it did not bear fruit.

“The Alliance for Change has gone above and beyond to try and find a resolution that would result in a combined opposition. We are at a stage where we have decided that we are going to compete in the elections, and that is where we are.

“We are always committed to whatever is in the best interest of Guyana,” Hughes.

However, Patterson noted that while a formal coalition has not been reached, the possibility of a joinder list remains open.

“The name of our party, since our establishment is Alliance and we will be having alliances with likeminded persons to contest the 2025 elections – until nomination day, technically that is when all possibilities are closed, and then there is also other possibilities of a joinder list,” Patterson said.

Meanwhile, Hughes also welcomed US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed into the political race and that he would look forward to a national debate of all candidates.

“I welcome Mr. Mohamed into this elections cycle; it gives Guyanese a wider range of choices and anything that offers the electorate a wider range of choices is good. I think for a long time we have had limited choices.

“Mr. Mohamed clearly has had an impact on the electorate and we welcome him,” Hughes said.

The AFC leader promised that the party will soon announce his running mate, having already decided he will be the presidential candidate.