APNU+AFC today accepted it had made an error in reporting on Thursday that it had been endorsed by the Muslim group ACIC.
An APNU+AFC press release issued today follows:
APNU+AFC rejects any attempt by anyone to suggest that APNU+AFC concocted the notion of an ‘endorsement’ by the ACIC for political purposes.
A Partnership for National Unity and The Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) wish to acknowledge that a meeting took place with members of the Muslim Community, and that this was just another warm and cordial meeting that the Coalition has had individually and collectively with the Anna Catherina Islamic Centre (ACIC) and its affiliates.
APNU+AFC wish to acknowledge that the ACIC expressed their concern on issues affecting the Muslim Community generally and their organisations in particular.
The APNU+AFC wishes to acknowledge that at no time in these discussions did the ACIC or the other participants in the meeting ‘endorse’ the Coalition.
The APNU+AFC therefore expresses its regret that our press release suggested that the ACIC endorsed the APNU+AFC. Instead there were expressions of warm sentiments and best wishes.
We wish to express our thanks to ACIC for its outstanding attempt to voice the concerns for issues affecting the Muslim Community and their expression of hope that their matters would engage the urgent attention of an APNU+AFC government if elected.
APNU+AFC also regret any adverse implications of our interpretation of sentiments expressed at our meeting constituted an ‘endorsement’. We regret also, any adverse effect that it may have had with ACIC’s relationship with the wider Muslim Community, Donor Agencies and partners in its programmes.
APNU+AFC rejects any attempt by anyone to suggest that APNU+AFC concocted the notion of an ‘endorsement’ by the ACIC for political purposes. APNU+AFC is acutely aware that any ‘endorsement’ of our coalition has to be free and voluntary in the democratic environment within which we operate.
