Timothy Jonas and Ralph Ramkarran resign from ANUG

Two founding members of A New and United Guyana (ANUG), Senior Counsel Timothy Munro Jonas and Ralph Ramkarran, have resigned from the party with immediate effect.

“This serves to inform that today I resigned as a member of A New and United Guyana,” Jonas announced in a Facebook post.

Just minutes earlier, Ramkarran also made his position known in a message.

“Good morning, Mark. As you know, I have not been active in ANUG for about five years now and have paid no membership dues. I am therefore unclear about my status. In the event I am still on the books as a member, I hereby formally tender my resignation,” he said.

The resignations came shortly after ANUG, under the leadership of Mark Defrance, announced a partnership with Azruddin Mohamed’s We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) ahead of the 2025 general elections.

Azruddin and his father, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, have been sanctioned by the US government for tax evasion and gold smuggling.

Notably, the alliance was formalised under the WIN banner, with an agreement signed on 28 June at WIN’s headquarters in Georgetown by WIN leader Azruddin and ANUG’s Mark Defrance. Defrance had previously stated that ANUG would not accept money from the Mohameds, and Mohamed had said he would not join forces with any political party.

News of the agreement came just a day after Azruddin’s uncles, Mohamed Haseeb Yusuf and Mohamed Yusuf, issued public statements endorsing President Irfaan Ali for a second term in office and urging voters to ignore their nephew.

Both men argued that Azruddin is inexperienced and unfit for political leadership, with Mohamed Yusuf referring to him as a “social media freak” and a “narcissist”.

Azruddin has not yet responded to their criticisms.

Despite the controversy, both ANUG and WIN stated that their alliance aims to offer voters an alternative platform focused on governance reform, national development, and inclusivity. The parties added that they hope the partnership will broaden their reach and influence ahead of the upcoming polls.