-Amid political freefall
-by Jarryl Bryan
After years of political turbulence that saw it fall from parliamentary prominence to zero representation, the Alliance For Change (AFC) is now fighting to claw its way back into relevance as it sets its sights on the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE).
During a virtual press conference today, AFC leader David Patterson vowed that the party is determined to bounce back, despite the devastating losses of 2025 that left the party completely absent from parliament.
Once an equal party that had representation in the 12th Parliament, by Khemraj Ramjattan, Sherod Duncan, and Juretha Fernandes, the AFC now stands as a shadow of its former self.
But after massive losses in the 2025 general and regional elections, AFC now has no representatives in parliament, though former members Duncan and Fernandes are now with APNU. Party leader David Patterson claims the AFC plans to participate in the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), but critics see this as a desperate attempt by a party with no parliamentary presence, no momentum, and a record of strategic blunders.
“When going around, as we have been quietly doing without much fanfare, our party members have expressed a desire to contest in LGE,” he said.
But the path forward is fraught with challenges. Patterson revealed that concerns over the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and its handling of the elections are weighing heavily on the party’s decision-making.
“So therefore obviously we will be looking very closely at the actions of GECOM,” Patterson added.
The upcoming elections mark a critical moment for the AFC, which notably skipped the 2023 local elections, raising questions about whether it can regain the trust of voters and mount a meaningful comeback.