By Mark DaCosta- Aubrey Norton, leader of the People’s National Congress Islahat (PNCR), has firmly declared that he remains the Chairman of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition, despite a vote on June 6 that purportedly removed him from the position. At an extraordinary meeting convened by other coalition members, Vincent Henry of the Guyana Action Party (GAP) was elected as the new Chairman in Norton’s absence.
During a recent press conference, Norton maintained his stance, asserting, “I continue to be Chairman of the APNU.” He argued that the election was illegitimate, citing that the PNCR had not been properly notified of the meeting. According to Norton, only the PNCR has the authority to call such a meeting, and therefore, the proceedings and outcomes were “unauthorised, null and void.”
The meeting, held on June 6, marked the first Executive Council meeting of the APNU since January 2022. It was attended by Keith Scott and Courdel Joseph of the National Front Alliance (NFA), Vincent Henry and Errol Ross of GAP, Jaipaul Sharma of the Equal Rights and Justice Party (ERJP), and Tabitha Sarabo-Halley of the Guyana Nation Builders (GNB). Despite the PNCR’s absence, the session progressed, resulting in Henry’s election as Chairman and Sarabo-Halley’s election as General Secretary.
APNU’s statement on the meeting indicated that all Executive Council members were invited, contradicting the PNCR’s claims of not receiving an invitation. The coalition noted that no excuse was provided by the PNCR for its absence, leading to the decision to fill the leadership vacancies. This discrepancy has further fuelled tensions within the coalition, highlighting the fractious nature of APNU’s internal dynamics.
Norton, speaking on the state of the coalition, acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic about resolving the issues. “I think we have a united party, but there is a difference between a party and a coalition. A coalition is a combination of parties, and they will always have different interests,” he explained. He expressed confidence that following the PNCR’s upcoming Congress, the parties would convene to address and resolve the current disputes.
The controversy surrounding the leadership extends to the internal affairs of the PNCR itself. Roysdale Forde, an Executive Member of the PNCR and a contender for the party’s leadership, has raised concerns about irregularities in the nominations process. Forde suggested that these irregularities are an attempt to create a false impression of overwhelming support for Norton. However, Norton dismissed these allegations, stating there was no evidence of any constitutional violations within the party.
Norton assured that the PNCR’s executive would meet soon to address any issues and ensure transparent processes for the upcoming party Congress. He emphasised the importance of proper systems and credible elections within the party, although he refrained from detailing specific measures, leaving such responsibilities to the accreditation and returning officers.
In addition to Norton and Forde, several other notable figures have been nominated for the PNCR leadership, including former Government Minister Simona Broomes, former Chief-of-Staff Gary Best, Guyana’s ICJ agent Carl Greenidge, MP Amanza Walton-Desir, and former Health Minister Volda Lawrence.
The ongoing leadership tussle within the APNU and the PNCR reflects the complex political landscape of our nation. As the PNCR prepares for its Congress, the outcomes will significantly impact the coalition’s future dynamics and its ability to present a unified front in the national political arena.