In a dramatic shake-up for Guyana’s political landscape, two founding figures of the small but influential party A New and United Guyana (ANUG)—Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran and attorney-at-law Timothy Jonas—have resigned following the party’s absorption by We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), led by US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed.
The announcement of the new alliance, formalized at a signing ceremony on June 28, 2025, at WIN’s headquarters, was met with swift backlash from within ANUG’s ranks. Ramkarran, a former Speaker of the National Assembly, and Jonas, a prominent advocate for constitutional reform, both tendered their resignations within hours of the news breaking. Ramkarran, in a message to ANUG leader Dr. Mark France, cited his longstanding inactivity and the party’s association with WIN as reasons for his decision. Jonas confirmed his resignation via social media, marking a clear break from the party he helped launch.
Azruddin Mohamed, the founder of WIN, is currently under US sanctions for alleged gold smuggling and public corruption. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has accused Mohamed’s enterprises of evading over US$50 million in gold export duties between 2019 and 2023. The decision by ANUG’s current leadership to join forces with WIN—despite previous assurances that Mohamed would not coalesce with another party—has drawn sharp criticism and raised questions about the future direction of both groups.
The alliance was formalized in a closed-door ceremony, with no media present, and a press release was issued in the early hours of Sunday morning, avoiding major news cycles. This lack of transparency has further fueled skepticism among political observers and party supporters.
With the resignations of Ramkarran and Jonas, ANUG loses two of its most recognizable voices and architects. Their departures cast doubt on the party’s ability to uphold its original vision of multi-ethnic, issues-based politics, and highlight the ongoing challenges faced by third-party movements in Guyana’s polarized environment. As the country prepares for general elections, the fallout from this alliance is expected to reverberate across the political spectrum.
