By Michelle Ann Joseph- Senior Counsel and Member of Parliament Roysdale Forde, an aspirant for the leadership of the People’s National Congress Islahat (PNCR), has expressed disagreement with the opposition leader’s stance on street protests. In a conversation on Dr. Hinds’ Politics 101 show on May 13th, 2024, Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton, revealed that after evaluating the situation in Guyana, the PNCR has decided to move away from street protests, focusing instead on regaining political power.
Mr. Norton pointed out that despite the protests of 1997, discussions were still necessary, emphasising that protests no longer lead to regime changes. He stated, “We will protest, but the form has to change; the kind of protest we are accustomed to has been effectively crippled by the government.”
Mr. Norton’s view contradicts street protest across the world today to effect changes such as police brutality in the United States (U.S), the Israel/Palestine War, fight to protect women’s reproductive rights in the US after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, and protest in Georgia against legislation that limits freedom of association
Conversely, Mr. Forde provided a different perspective. Speaking to Village Voice News, he argued that Mr. Norton’s dismissal of protests has left various groups in Guyana—like public servants, policemen, nurses, teachers, and the vulnerable—without support. He described this as leaving them “in a canoe without a paddle.”
Social media and various activists have also responded to Mr. Norton’s position. Dr. David Hinds and Mr. Mark Benschop, in a discussion on Benschop’s “Straight Up’ programme on May 14th, criticised Mr. Norton’s view. Dr. Hinds highlighted that protesting is a fundamental right, citing numerous injustices in Guyana.
Additionally, social media activist Rickford Burke and the Caribbean Governance and Development Institute (CGID) have both denounced Mr. Norton’s stance. CGID labeled it as “misguided foolishness” and urged Mr. Norton to reevaluate his statements, emphasising that protests are crucial for holding governments accountable.
Moreover, Mr. Lawrence Houston, a long-standing PNCR member in the diaspora, criticised the current leadership for not effectively utilising protests to challenge injustices. He lamented the lack of militancy in a party with a 70-year history of struggle, highlighting the successful protests by the Guyana Teachers Union despite facing similar challenges.
Mr. Forde, who announced his intention to run for the PNCR leadership on March 28th due to philosophical differences with Mr. Norton, advocates for a more politically aggressive approach and supports the continuation of street protests, vowing to defend citizens against opposition from law enforcement. This stance underlines a significant divide in the party’s approach to activism and leadership.