–Norton confirms party has senior members who are tainted by allegations of corruption
–as Forde, Mahipaul express interest in vying for PNC leadership

THINGS are heating up in the People’s National Congress-Reform (PNC-R) camp, as the talks of infighting and rejection of Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton’s leadership are increasing rapidly.

Just one hour before the party’s weekly press conference, Roysdale Forde announced that he will be throwing his hat in the ring for the leadership of the PNC-R.
This announcement by Forde raised the eyebrows of many, as the Opposition Parliamentarian, at the launch of his internal campaign, garnered the support of several PNC-R colleagues, while Norton only had Ganesh Mahipaul by his side at his press conference.

In response to Forde’s announcement, Norton said: “This party is a democratic party; anyone can run for leadership of the party.”
Despite claiming that the PNC-R is democratic, Norton subsequently delivered a direct blow to Forde’s expression of interest, and implied that the PNC-R wants a leader who is politically experienced.

While attempting to blow his own trumpet and highlight what makes him “the man for the job”, the incumbent Opposition Leader said: “…But this party is also a politically sensible party. A lot of party members speak to me, and there are certain things they are looking for in the leader at this stage. One of them is the PPP must have nothing on you, so that they can use it to their advantage. You must not be involved in any oil scam, or there’s any document in the government’s drawers that can be used to control you.”
He then added: “I am one of the persons who stand up as somebody [whose] integrity is intact.”

While demonstrating an unfazed demeanor towards Forde’s expression of interest, Norton noted: “It’s a true manifestation that they have not yet arrived at the point where they have the knowledge of the party… I want to make it very, very clear, the people in the party are aware of the conditions under which there were primaries.”
Responding to the calls for the wider Guyanese society to be involved in primaries, Norton said that this is an indication that one probably has “a PPP agenda.”

With Norton confidently maintaining that he will remain leader of the PNC-R, he said: “We will see at the end who the PNC members vote for, and I have no doubt that it will be me.”
Meanwhile, Mahipaul, in responding to a question about his interest in the leadership position, said: “I believe I am amply qualified to run for leader of this party; I believe that I satisfy all requirements, and I believe that I’m very experienced when it comes to the party’s structure and its workings.”

He added: “And if groups from this People’s National Congress-Reform see me fit and nominate me, I will take it into serious consideration.”
Norton became leader following the 22nd Biennial Congress, where he was challenged for the post by Joseph Harmon and Richard Van West Charles. Forde had openly supported Harmon at the time.

Last year, there were clear efforts by senior members of the party to displace Leader of the Opposition Norton.
A recording of what appeared to be a conversation among senior members of the PNC/R discussing internal matters, surfaced recently on social media.
Referencing the recording, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo had previously said: “Norton has bigger problems, and it is a den of cutthroats in there [PNC].”

He went on to say: “So, his problem is not the PPP now; his problem is in his own party… because from the revelation of the tape that followed the resignation of the treasurer, one could clearly discern a clever campaign at displacing Norton.”
The Vice-President said, too, that the tape reveals, too, how duplicitous senior PNC/R members could be.
Amidst the internal power struggle, the party had appointed Dawn Hastings-Williams to be the new General Secretary.

Reports were that the party made this decision, casting aside purported GS hopefuls Ganesh Mahipaul, Mervyn Williams and Simona Broomes.
The announcement came after the resignation of Geeta Chandan-Edmond from the position following a months-long leave.