By: Marvin Cato | HGP Nightly News |
Former leader of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Dr. Mark France, has stepped down as chairman of the party, citing betrayal and manipulation by the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Party in the recent configuration of parliamentary seats following the 2025 General and Regional Elections.
In an interview with HGPTV Nightly News, Dr. France revealed that ANUG was denied the opportunity to select its own parliamentary representative, a move he described as both disrespectful and deceptive.
“We had three meetings back and forth before this agreement was signed. The excuse given by the WIN leader was that he didn’t know what he signed on to — that he thought it was a different arrangement,” France explained.
The now-former chairman said ANUG was “hoodwinked” into the coalition process, alleging that WIN’s leader, Azruddin Mohamed, breached the understanding that parliamentary seats would be distributed fairly among coalition partners.
France noted that a new member, who had joined ANUG only weeks before the election, was selected to sit in Parliament — a decision he said was made without consultation or consensus.
“It speaks volumes about the character of the person. We saw changes being made after names were initially selected. If there was truly an intention to honor the agreement, the proper person could have been placed there,” France asserted.
The rift between ANUG and WIN has deepened since the elections, with France expressing deep regret over what he now views as misplaced trust in the coalition leader.
The outspoken politician, who had previously congratulated the coalition’s 29 parliamentary nominees and urged them to “be the change” Guyana needs, said the entire process lacked transparency and good faith.
Following his resignation, Dr. France took to social media to reaffirm his commitment to integrity and teamwork:
“I have always been a team player and respected the rules of the game we signed up to. No one will ever accuse me of not acting in the best interest of the collective. My decision to step down as chairman is just another example of putting the team first.”
Dr. France concluded by expressing hope that ANUG — which he described as “the most democratic party” he has seen in his five years of politics — will continue to uphold its principles of fairness, inclusion, and accountability.
