THE People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) is standing on a shaky foundation as concerned citizens are calling upon Party Leader, Aubrey Norton, to set a date for the long-overdue Congress.

As the Opposition’s press conference was ongoing, on Thursday, it was said that concerned citizens were on the outskirts of the PNC/R Headquarters, Congress Place, calling for the Congress to be held. Within this light, Norton said that it will be held no later than August 31, 2024.

Based on the established policy, Norton’s stint at the helm of the party practically expired in December 2023.
Norton who seemed to have been caught off guard with the question as to when Congress will be held and if preparations have started, said: “At general council, it was agreed that Congress will be held no later than 31st August and that is known.”

Furthermore, instead of acknowledging those persons and the reason they were protesting, Norton accused them of being paid by the current government and someone within his party that no longer “wields power.”
“We are not worried about that,” the Party Leader said while speaking about the group of persons calling for Congress to be held and not pro-longed.

While not giving an exact date, Norton said that PNC/R group members, across the country, are “preparing” for it.
“Group members are aware that Congress is coming and they are preparing for Congress,” he related.

Moreover, the Party Leader attempted to flee from the pressing issue at hand and instead accused the government of trying to take the spotlight off of the teachers’ strike, although there has been a prolonged confusion, infighting, warring, and outright drama as the party prepares for a possible biennial congress to choose its leader ahead of the elections in 2025.

Not being given the opportunity to dodge the subject, as Norton was pressed, and he remarked that the public will be given a one or two-month notice before the PNC/R Congress is held.

“As a party, we have had a tradition, at least a month or two before the Congress we first name all the persons to head committees, etc and then we announce when the Congress will be held and when that time would have arrived, we will announce to the public that this is the date for Congress….” Norton said.

Unlike the PNC/R, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), last month, announced that they will be hosting its congress to elect a new leadership in May of this year.