AMIDST backlash from its members on its recent parliamentary selection, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) has defended the coalition’s List of Candidates for Parliament as being the “face of the future” which will revitalise the PNC/R.

Just recently, major criticism was met out to the head of the party, former President David Granger and other Executives of the PNC/R for dropping the likes of PNC/R Chair, Volda Lawrence, and Executive Member, Aubrey Norton from the list.

The list was required to be submitted to the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, for the allocation of parliamentary seats. Excluded were also David Granger; former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams; and PNC/R General Secretary, Amna Ally.

However, many well-knowns within the party took offense primarily with the exclusion of Lawrence, who was also the former public health minister and Norton.

Attorney-at-Law, James Bond, took to his social media page in a live video where he stated, plainly, that efforts were not made to engage in consultations to select individuals who would bring the best value to the party, but based on favoritism and ulterior motives.

“The omission of Cde. Volda Ann Lawrence from the APNU+AFC list of parliamentarians was a cold, crude and callous decision. That decision has left a bad taste in the mouths of the people of Georgetown, the women of the PNC/R, the youth of the PNC/R, more importantly the hard-working members of the PNC/R. I must make mention of the omissions of Aubrey Norton, Jevaughn Stephen, Thandi Mc Allister, Ryan Belgrave who suffered at the hand of fascist leadership. These aren’t fly-by-night comrades, these are comrades like you and I who have worked tirelessly in the trenches and weren’t afforded the decency of consultations or private communication of their endings. It is time for a leadership that values hard working comrades a leadership that listens to ordinary comrades enough of fascism! Time to rewrite their failed legacy with a new one!” he said.

NOT MALICE

Bond added that while he holds no malice against anyone individually, he has noticed that hard work is not respected or rewarded in the party. He posted a photograph of Lawrence on his timeline captioned: “They know if you go to Parliament you would have had to be made opposition leader. The first woman opposition leader in our Parliament’s history.”

The attorney was also on the coalition’s List of Candidates submitted in January on Nomination Day but was not selected to serve in Parliament.

In a release on Tuesday, the PNC/R published the full list of candidates for Parliament from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) which make up the coalition. Collectively, there were 40 names listed, nine from the AFC and 31 from the APNU.

In the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, the coalition won 31 seats. Under the revised Cummingsburg Accord, the AFC will only get 30 per cent of the seats secured by the coalition in the National Assembly based on a new 70:30 ratio agreed upon with APNU. The formula will also guide the allocation of seats at the level of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs).

“The PNC/R has taken a bold step forward. The composition of the list of candidates extracted to be representatives in the next Parliament is the face of the future and will empower a new generation of leaders. The PNC/R has always advocated that young people are essential to Guyana’s development,” said the party whose coalition government was dominated by persons who passed retirement age.

However, many supporters are still disgruntled. Famed Guyanese singer, Lisa Punch-Benn commented on Facebook: “I stand with Cde. Hon. Volda Lawrence. The fact that she was snubbed upsets me! Why isn’t James on the list too? I don’t understand this. The only thing that makes sense is that someone is afraid of Volda being competent enough to run this country and afraid of the youths that fiercely support her.”

Political activist, Norman Browne added: “There is no letting up. There is no party without the people. You stand strong and firm my brother and friend, James Anthony-Bond. We are not waiting for the sitting of another Congress next year. We must go back to Congress now! The party is not Joseph Harmon and Comrade David Granger; it is the people. And the people have spoken.”