AFC cancels membership of three defectors to APNU

Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 June 2025, 23:03 by Writer

The Alliance For Change (AFC) on Wednesday said it has scrapped the membership of three executive members – Sherod Duncan, Juretha Fernandes, and Deonarine (Ricky) Ramsaroop – after they allegedly failed to respond to a request for clarification about their allegiance.

“The Alliance For Change, guided by its Constitution and principles, considers that the three have chosen to forfeit their membership of the Party and has therefore formally cancelled their membership,” the party said in a statement.

The AFC said the trio failed to respond to the AFC General Secretary’s request for clarification about media reports that they had formally aligned themselves with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), and have committed to being candidates on that party’s Lists of Candidates for the upcoming General and Regional Elections on September 1, 2025.

After no response, the AFC said it independently verified that the trio has officially subscribed to membership of the APNU.

People’s National Congress Reform’s (PNCR) APNU spokesman, Sherwood Lowe earlier Wednesday confirmed that Ms Fernandes would be APNU’s prime ministerial candidate, and that Mr Duncan had also signaled his intent to join APNU.

The AFC added that any private arrangement established without consultation and completely contrary to the established protocols of the negotiations to date is “totally unacceptable” to that party and its members.

The AFC said it is a party founded on the democratic principles of freedom of choice and would like to thank Mr. Duncan, Ms. Fernandes and Mr. Ramsaroop “for their service to the Party and takes the opportunity to wish them well in their future endeavors and political careers.”