–Ally points to mistreatment of Indians in the party

THE walls of unity and inclusion that the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) attempts to portray are slowly crumbling, as individuals within the party are coming forth with damning allegations of racism and being sidelined because they do not support the current leadership.

Since the launch of Opposition member, Roysdale Forde’s internal campaign to vie for the leadership of the party, the PNC/R has weathered tremendous turbulence.
This publication was informed by a reliable source that members within the party are being severely marginalised because of their decision to endorse Forde.

However, some individuals have taken a firm stance and protested against the incumbent Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton. Last week, the skeletons in the PNC/R’s closet were let out.
Former PNC/R General Secretary Amna Ally spoke out against Norton, and deemed him “unfit” to lead.
In response, PNC/R Chairman Shurwayne Holder, among other Opposition operatives, came out and hammered Ally for her statements.

In a Facebook post last Wednesday, the PNC/R Chairman said that he does not believe Ally has “the moral authority to say who is unfit to lead the party”.
Ally, in an invited comment to the Sunday Chronicle said, “Well, the members are trying to silence me because I came out and said that I will support Roysdale Forde for the leader of the party,” adding: “On the other hand, I don’t feel that the present leader [is] doing what he should be doing as current leader of the party.”

In response to Holder’s statements about her, she said: “I am a member of PNC long before Shurwayne Holder was born, and so I have every right, as a member of the party, to say how I feel, and to support who I [want]… Holder can’t talk about me and moral authority; I don’t have any time and space for rubbish like that.”

As it relates to allegations of division within the party, the former PNC/R General Secretary said that despite Holder accusing her of attempting to divide the party, this is not true.
“I would never try to divide the party; it is them… The first thing they did was to dismantle the party structure in all the regions,” she said, adding: “That’s why he couldn’t contest the Local Government Elections, because he ain’t got no structure in the regions for people to do the work.”

While the allegations of racism in the party are not new, former Mayor of Georgetown and PNC/R member Ubraj Narine on Friday called for the party to address the concerns raised by “loyal members who feel marginalised due to their Indian heritage or desire to challenge the party’s leadership”.

In support of this sentiment, Ally referenced two situations, the first having to do with Geeta Chandan-Edmond being forced to resign as PNC/R General Secretary.
Chandan-Edmond reportedly resigned from her post after growing concerns that she was not allowed to fully function in her capacity as GS.

Sources familiar with the situation had told the Guyana Chronicle that Chandan-Edmond had “endured” a lot before throwing in the proverbial towel.
Secondly, Ally referenced the former PNC/R Treasurer Faaiz Mursaline, who, in a previous interview with this publication, said from the time he assumed the position of elected treasurer he was made to sign blank cheques with no supporting documents.

In November 2022, he signed as many as 20 blank cheques.

“It is clear that he [Norton] sidelines everybody,” she said, adding: “Since Norton come in, he says one thing but he does something else and it is clear, I just told you about all those resignations, all are Indian. So, what reflection does it give?”