Despite Aubrey Norton, the leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), asserting that his party remains on solid ground, recent defections and internal discord raise significant doubts about its stability ahead of the approaching September 1 elections.
Several prominent figures, including Dr. Richard Van-West Charles, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, and Daniel Seeram, among others, have left the PNCR to endorse President Dr. Irfaan Ali and the multiracial People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). Their departures stem from dissatisfaction with the party’s current direction and leadership.
At a recent press conference, Norton dismissed concerns about party disintegration as “laughable,” maintaining that membership has been on the rise since he took the helm. However, the ongoing loss of influential figures and increased internal criticism tell a different story, undermining his claims.
Norton attempted to downplay the impact of these defections, portraying the former members’ contributions as minor while seemingly ignoring their expressed grievances. Despite claiming these changes would have no adverse effects, the reality indicates a growing dissent within the party.
Statements from former party members reveal deeper dissatisfaction, with Chandan-Edmond vividly expressing her anguish over feeling marginalized. Seeram, in a Facebook post, officially endorsed President Ali, indicating a deliberate choice for leadership that contrasts with the PNCR’s current trajectory. The sentiment resonates broadly, with acknowledgments from within the party that the PNCR is diminished and struggling as it approaches crucial elections.
Source: guyanachronicle.com
