Georgetown, Guyana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – to all media
June 18, 2025
PRESS RELEASE
Alliance for Change statement on defection of members & coalition talks.
The Alliance For Change has taken careful note of media reports today, which detail that former executive members – Sherod Duncan, Juretha Fernandes, and Deonarine (Ricky) Ramsaroop, have 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.
The AFC General Secretary has written to each of the former members seeking clarification and they have failed to respond. However, independently, the Party has been able to verify that the three – Duncan, Fernandes and Ramsaroop have officially subscribed to membership of the APNU.
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.
In relation to the issue of the status of the coalition engagements, on Monday the 17th May 2025 the AFC submitted a proposal to the APNU through a trusted intermediary. This proposal was as follows:
Draft Coalition Agreement
| PROPOSAL | RECOMMENDATION |
| Presidential Candidate | APNU to nominate |
| PM Candidate | AFC to nominate |
| Ratio | 65/35 – to be applied across the board. |
| Representative of List | Independent nominee – acceptable to both parties |
| Speaker | AFC to nominate, but acceptable to APNU |
We were informed on Tuesday 18th that this proposal was rejected. On this occasion APNU decided that they must also name the AFC’s PM candidate contrary to the established protocol of the negotiations. This demand is totally unacceptable to the AFC.
This last proposal gave APNU all they have been asking for to agree a coalition and the AFC decided at all costs it would play its role in response to public feedback and the nation’s desire for a unified opposition. It is now clear the APNU was and is not interested in a coalition.
Any private arrangement established without consultation and completely contrary to the established protocols of the negotiations to date is totally unacceptable to the Alliance For Change and its members.
The Alliance For Change 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.
END
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