CONTENDER for the leadership of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Mr. Aubrey Norton, yesterday, dropped out of the elections race, citing serious problems with the election process.At a news conference last night, Brigadier (rtd.) David Granger, who was returned as party leader, unopposed, acknowledged Norton’s contentions, but noted that the “vast majority” of party members supported his election.
““The vast majority of party members supported the team that was elected today…I believe that the majority of people who remained in the hall were given an accurate picture of the opinions and interests of delegates countrywide,” Granger said.
Asked about engagement with Mr. Norton, as well as contender for the chairmanship of the party, Mr. Sharma Solomon, the party leader made clear that he has never “disengaged” either party.
Granger said, “I have never disengaged Mr. Solomon…I have met with Mr. Norton here (Congress Place). Mr. Solomon and Mr. Norton are both members of the party and the party has rules and structures and both of them are fully empowered and competent to participate in those structures. I will engage them if they want to see me. I have never denied them the opportunity to meet me.”
The fallout from Norton’s withdrawal from the race was also raised; however, the PNC/R leader noted that he is not worried.
“I am not worried…we have one party, there are a few dissidents, but we have one party. The majority of the people are loyal and hardworking members of the party. The party is not broken up into factions….I am satisfied that the party’s solidarity is very strong,” he said.
Granger added that if people want to serve the party, there are many avenues and opportunities via which this can be done.
“I am not in the business of excluding anyone from party office,” he stressed.
However, he expressed the hope that Norton will continue to work with the party/
“What Mr. Norton choses to do is a matter for him, but certainly we regard him as a long standing member of the PNC and we expect him to continue to work with the PNC,” Granger concluded. (Vanessa Narine)