AUBREY Norton is alone. Nobody, of any significance, wants to stand by his side publicly. Long-standing party members and supporters will not be seen to stand by a leader who is accused of internal racism, corruption, financial impropriety, narcissistic-political rage, and other unsavoury things.

No one will vouch for Norton’s uninspiring track record as the autocratic leader of the badly wounded PNC, whom he has claimed to love.
After all, the PNC has a rich history of some of the finest leaders in political party office and some of them have led the country as president. But, regardless of their character flaws and shortcomings, they did not have to fight for the love, affection, loyalty, and respect of their party’s leadership, including its membership.

Now, the PNC party is even more wounded and divided than when Norton took over three and a half years ago. The party has not evolved as a political unit in the country. The status quo remains the same, and internal cut-throat politics appear to be the order of the day.

The party has also suffered the greatest defeat at the Local Government Elections because of poor political management and logistics, and lest we have forgotten, nobody wanted to vote for Norton. Regardless, of internal politics, Norton is not president material and does not possess the armour for such a taxing office.

Nevertheless, Norton does not care because he will get a chance to be the PNC presidential candidate. For him, the end justifies the means. So, he set up the Congress Committee which he surprisingly chairs. This conflict of interest and unprecedented move is being followed by the disbanding of the party’s North American Chapter (NAC) because it, with its current leaders, would threaten Norton’s chance at being elected.

Norton has already set the tone for internal elections this month which will ensure his victory. He is going a step further to disenfranchise the electors and ultimately rig the election. For Norton, power and control, and the use of psychological warfare are part of his campaign strategy.

So, while there is a secret coup planned without the use of force for this month’s end to try and wield Norton from the seat of the party leader, Norton has played them like a checkers Game. He is pulling all tricks and stunts internally to ensure he maintains his tight grip on power, taking pages out of Congress Place’s handbook and the Hoyte/Green debacle that ensued during that era.

He believes in using alternative facts and party gossip to dent the campaign of his detractors and muster up grassroots support because the upper classes of the PNC traditionally finance the party. Let’s analyse.
Firstly, it is almost sad that in this modern age, and at this critical crossroad in Guyanese politics, a party leader has to beg for acceptance, love and the affection of party groups.

It is even more sad that Norton goes on a campaign visiting party groups asking, and begging for their endorsements. Targeting the grassroots Afro-Guyanese and Amerindians in the PNC is just within his personality because he should be able to understand that a strong party leader does not see race or geography when it comes to his/her constituency.

They see a voting member and should speak to people with dignity. In any case, they must ask themselves where was Norton for three years and a half. Why did he not have the same energy to visit the hinterland party groups and all regions as he is covertly doing now? Why, Norton? Can Norton unseat an Ali/Jagdeo ticket and become President? What was Norton doing to salvage his name from the mountainous scandals that occurred?

Begging for love and acceptance is not presidential and certainly not looking good for Norton’s campaign. Asking for votes when one doesn’t even have something to show or a set of things that one has accomplished from 2021 to now, is not helpful. Stating a case for reelection without speaking to the heap of accusations against one’s office or person is disingenuous and not smart.

Secondly, disbanding NAC and seeking to announce Congress without giving others interested adequate time to prepare is not a smart way to retrieve the top leadership post but places it in jeopardy, especially if it backfires.

Norton’s strategy is not foolproof; it is risky and wild and can prove to be ammunition for any leader who wants proof of a leader who panics and is too power-drunk. Pulling tricks from his hat as Congress draws closer just proves how politically immature the leader is. It is not cute or just a coincidence that Norton disenfranchised NAC so close to the polls.

A stupid person could see the clear motive of doing this at this time and exposing party business which we were fine, not knowing.
Thirdly, nothing has changed with the way Norton approaches politics in Guyana. It is a shame that he once taught people’s children at UG because he needs to be schooled on modern politics.

Norton must know that politics must be exciting and dynamic but one must ensure that one’s political home is in order first before one takes on other responsibilities. He has left Congress Place like a Pandora’s box that has opened up for the world to see. The party is more divisive and divided than the times of Robert Corbin and Desmond Hoyte.

No wonder the politicians are rejecting Norton. They do not like his style and what he represents as a leader. They are forced to become kingmakers and build a leader for their party because there is no one.
Finally, the PNC race is neither fair nor free from fear.

Norton has usurped the power in the party and has curtailed all the rules in the lead-up to internal elections. The Congress will be rigged.
If the people and politicians say they do not want Norton, at this point and time, then why is he still rebuking them and fighting them? As Lizz Truss, Boris Johnson and Theresa May resigned in Britain, so must one know when to go or pull a Margaret Thatcher and leave graciously.

Norton must know when to go and when to throw in the towel, especially if he’s not going to have a levelled playing field for competitors, or a congress without rigging.
And Norton experienced the humiliation first-hand of leaders interfering and setting the outcome of the Congress before the Congress. If it was wrong then in 2014 and 2021, it is wrong now in 2024. If Mursaline Bacchus, Geeta Chandon-Edmond, Amna Ally, David Granger, Joseph Harmon, and other party leaders and members have told the country or hinted at squabbles with Norton in the past, what else needs to be said?