Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes, and his party are under intense public scrutiny after a woman accused them of using her intellectual property without permission, credit, or compensation as part of the party’s election campaign.
In several Facebook posts which have since gone viral, Nakisha Sinclair detailed a series of events which she said are clear evidence that the AFC and Hughes – the party’s presidential candidate – used ideas and plans she developed to support the AFC’s election campaign.
The ideas and plans specifically focused on education, youth, the environment, and sport.
“So I sent you a cease and desist to tell you not to use my idea or compensate me, and you’re replying to me telling me that I never entered any agreement with you and I am trying to extort you? Nigel Hughes, you are shameless,” Sinclair wrote in her post.
Sinclair explained that the engagement began earlier this year after she shared an education plan with AFC member Catherine Glasgow.
Hughes allegedly followed up with a direct call on February 25, which reportedly led to a 40-minute conversation about her ideas.
“We spoke because you liked my ideas… You also stated that Mr. Alexander was working on one for you guys,” she said.
According to Sinclair, shortly after she submitted a draft proposal, her concepts were absorbed into the AFC’s campaign materials. She further alleges that elements of her work, including structure and language, have been reused under the “Future Forward” banner without credit being given.
Feeling misled, Sinclair said she withdrew her support and formally issued a cease and desist letter in March, making it clear that none of her submitted work was to be used. She claims that Hughes acknowledged her ownership of the material and agreed not to use it.
“Now I am still seeing you use not only my layout, but my name,” she said in the social media post, adding that: “I asked you guys to compensate me for my work and you have the nerve to tell me I am trying to extort the Alliance For Change?”
Screenshots of conversations with Hughes and other correspondence shared by Sinclair reportedly document the exchanges between her and key AFC officials, including the initial submission, follow-ups, and Hughes’ reaction to her compensation request.
Sinclair also took issue with what she described as Hughes’ hypocrisy, pointing out that he recently supported another individual who claimed the government had misused their ideas.
“You had the nerve to come on social media representing someone else because they accused the government of stealing their work but you want to try and use legal positioning – deny, deflect, and intimidate?” she stated.
This controversy comes as the AFC is attempting to rebrand and relaunch itself under Hughes’ leadership ahead of the September 1 general and regional elections.
The post Nigel Hughes, AFC under fire for unauthorized use of campaign ideas appeared first on News Room Guyana.
