AFC appoints Nagamootoo ‘Elder Statesman/Political Advisor’

Following the unanimous approval of the Alliance For Change (AFC) National Conference on Saturday, the party has appointed Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to a newly created position of Elder Statesman/Political Advisor.

A statement from the AFC yesterday said that the position has no term limit and Nagamootoo will serve on the party’s Management Committee as a full voting member.

Nagamootoo had been nominated to contest the positions of Leader, Chairman and Vice Chairman on Saturday but withdrew his candidacy on the eve of the elections adverting to the need to “make space in the party leadership for a new generation of leaders”.

The statement said that Nagamootoo did contest for a position on the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and received “resounding support, coming in second with 104 votes among the 12 elected members of the NEC”.

Moses Nagamootoo

The statement noted that Nagamootoo’s political career spans more than 50 years during which time he served in the People’s Progressive Party under former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan and held several ministerial portfolios. He joined the AFC in 2011 and in 2015 was elected Prime Minister under the APNU+AFC Coalition.

Nagamootoo took over the Vice Chairmanship of the party in 2011 following the passing of Co-Founder Leader Sheila Holder and also served as Acting Chairman since April 2016 when then substantive Chairman Nigel Hughes resigned.

Raphael Trotman was elected Leader on Saturday in a close contest with incumbent, Khemraj Ramjattan.

The AFC National Conference was held on Saturday, January 28th at the Vreed-en-Hoop Primary School on the West Bank of Demerara.