– … several members to resign

WHILE returned leader David Granger appears to be pouring cold water on the extent of the division within the ranks of the People’s National Congress Reform, several long standing and ordinary members have signalled their intention to resign from the party following its 18th Biennial Congress.

The Congress was marred by allegations of rigging and boisterous protests organised and led by its Linden constituents.
The Congress degenerated to its lowest of lows with party members allegedly being abused by the faction who supported Granger and his clan of hand-picked executives.
The police have already indicated that an investigation is underway into the shooting incident which occurred at Congress Place that left scores traumatized, despite Granger’s attempt to conceal the matter.

National Secretary of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), Adel Lily, has already written his resignation letter and sought to submit same during the ruckus.
Lily said that he was abused and verbally threatened by several executives of the party, including members of his own GYSM Central Executive.
“The list was padded,” Lily declared, stating that the Accreditation Committee met for the first on Saturday and over several days failed to address adequately the concerns raised by disenfranchised and legitimate party comrades.
“People gave their lives to this party…I gave the last five years of my life to this party…I worked hard in the fields, but now I am resigning my membership,” Lily said in a disappointing tone.
He said democracy was dead within the party if members were not allowed to disagree with their leaders.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Speaker and PNC/R Executive, Clarissa Rheil has also expressed her desire to resign from the party.
She said that Granger was too aloof and stiff to manage the affairs of a buoyant political party such as the PNCR. Rheil said that she was disappointed that Granger did not intervene personally to quell the ruckus and confusion that was overshadowing the party congress.
“He and some members of his team stood and drank water on the side,” Rheil told media.
She said in no uncertain terms that she was resigning from the party after deliberately postponing her decision to withdraw completely from the party.
Apart from Aubrey Norton, who said that he will be making a critical decision about his future in the PNCR in the days to come, at least fifteen other party members have prepared their resignations to be sent in to their respective group leaders, the region and the national management committees.
“I am fed up. Who does Mr. Granger think he is? I am an equal member to him. I do not care that he was an Army man. He knows that he does not enjoy the support of ordinary PNC people like we,” another member Shelly-Ann Mentore said.
Other members accused Granger of creating the confusion and contributing to the conflict.
“Granger heart cold….I slaved my life away for this party since Desmond Hoyte time and they shut de gate on me. They will need we bottom house people when the elections come. I not returning as long Granger is there,” the woman said.
This new division widens the gap that already existed after long standing member and former Government Minister Dr. Faith Harding exited the party citing concerns about Granger’s leadership.
Dr. Van West Charles has also reportedly walked away from the party. Vincent Alexander resigned from the party after he too had concerns about the direction it was headed.
Since Granger took control of the party in 2011, it has begun bleeding and hemorrhaging from all of its major joints.