-new APNU Chairman says election process was valid, PNCR was invited
-asserts partnership is no ‘one-man show’

THE A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has seemingly cut ties with the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), as the party went ahead and elected new leadership in its partner’s absence.

All of the APNU’s Executive Council members were invited to its recently convened Executive Council meeting, which was the party’s first in a long time. However, the PNCR did not show up.

The non-attendance of the PNCR has raised eyebrows since, according to the APNU, the party was given adequate notice and even a reminder.

With the evident division continuing to rip the Opposition to shreds on the national stage, the PNCR this time attempted to save face with a press release. However, this proved futile as APNU’s new leadership remain firm in their new course of action.

The PNCR, in its effort to maintain its image, had clapped back in the press release, positing that the party had not been invited.

“The PNCR, which is the Chairman of the APNU, and who at present is Mr. Aubrey C Norton did not send out any notice for [the] APNU meeting nor elections. What purports to be an APNU election is unauthorised and null and void,” the release read.

It further stated: “The PNCR wishes to note that any claim that the PNCR was invited to a meeting is totally untrue, as we received no such invitation. Moreover, there is no one with the locus standi to send such an invitation.”

However, Vincent Henry, leader of the Guyana Action Party (GAP), who has been elected the new Chairman of the APNU has not allowed the PNCR to peddle this rhetoric and in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, stated that the party stands firmly with its decision.

While the PNCR has labelled the APNU election as “null” and “void”, Henry in disagreeing has maintained that the partnership is not a one-man show.
He said: “Well, as far as we are concerned, there was democracy and the four leaders of the APNU except the leader of the PNC made a decision to have elections… If there [are] to be any changes, the collective will have to make a decision because we are [a] coalition and one person can’t make decisions on behalf of the coalition.”

With that said, according to him, the status quo remains the same and he shall continue as Chairman of the APNU. However, the party is open for discussions with the PNCR regarding any disagreements.

He also said that Norton, the then Chairman, was sent an email on June 3, 2024 about the meeting and a reminder was sent on June 5, 2024, the day before the meeting.

‘CAKE SHOP’

Notably, a great number of Opposition members have continued to hammer Norton’s leadership style, which includes attempts to suppress dissenting voices.

The very fabric of democracy within the PNCR is being trampled upon by the current leader, Norton, according to former PNCR General Secretary, Amna Ally.

She recently labelled the party’s state under Norton as a “cake shop.”

With claims of persons being sidelined for supporting anyone except Norton, Ally had related that despite the attacks that are being thrown at her, she will continue to speak out against the incumbent leader.

She said: “We must ask Aubrey Norton what entitles him to run the PNCR like his personal pig farm or cake shop.”

While the current PNCR leader has stated that the party is democratic, it is clear as day that others do not share these sentiments, and instead are hell-bent on exposing the party’s leadership for acting contrary to what is being preached.