–Forde, Walton-Desir call for change amidst loud chants of ‘Aubrey must go’
THE People’s National Congress-Reform (PNC-R) has found itself in a position where even its own members have lost faith in the party.
While the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, has managed to cop 177 nominations ahead of the PNC-R’s Congress, party members within the past few months and even on Nomination Day for the congress, yesterday criticised his leadership and even publicly exposed a number of infractions that have occurred under his watch.
Compounding Norton’s leadership challenges have been allegations of unaccountability, racial discrimination and hostility, to name a few.
Nomination Day is part of the election process to elect a new party executive, including Party Leader, Chairman, two Vice Chairpersons, Treasurer and the 15 Central Executive Committee members.
Despite Nomination Day being a major day for the PNC-R, the turnout was dismal.
While Norton might have secured the majority of the nominations, Congress Place was hot as Amanza Walton-Desir, who is also contending for the leadership position, had a campaign which chanted vociferously for the current leader to go.
“Aubrey must go!” the crowd shouted as they completely overpowered Norton’s own campaign.
In an interview with reporters, Norton boasted that the chances of him losing his position as leader are “little to none.”
Norton further said that he has “no doubt” that the base of the party will support him “overwhelmingly,” and even believes he will do better than he did at the last party elections.
Already, before the announcement of results, Norton was overly confident of sweeping over 75 per cent of the nominations, as he based this projection on him “working” with the party members.
“I’m no newcomer,” he said.
Further, the current leader had indirectly taken shots at his challengers by stating: “Some people make the mistake of believing that party elections are won on social media. They are won by engaging party members.”
While Norton is of the opinion that he has “rebuilt” the party, other members have highlighted the party’s crumbling structure and its fight to survive.
In this regard, Roysdale Forde, who is also vying for the position of party leader, said that the PNC-R is facing serious challenges, especially when it comes to meaningfully impacting Guyana’s rapid development.
While stating that he thinks he has a “very good” chance of winning the position as Leader of the PNC-R, he outlined the current condition of the party.
“The platform on which I’m seeking to lead the party is to rebuild, refocus and regroup the party. The party, I believe, at this stage of its history has never been weaker, has never been more disorganised,” Forde said.
Contrary to Norton’s view that under his watch, the party has brought forth “consistent” policies, Forde told reporters that the Opposition needs to do more work in the communities and be more involved.
Additionally, he said within the last two years, the party has significantly “regressed.”
He later lamented: “The party is completely and largely divided in terms of the respective regions. They are polarising groups across almost every strength and almost every area of the party support base. Over the past two years, no work has been done on the front of reconciliation.”
He also said that the party needs new leadership and he is able to offer the party a better direction and focus. Further, Walton-Desir called for a new political culture to be ushered in.
“For me, it is about creating a vibrant, strong opposition. For me, it’s about heralding a new political culture in our country,” she said.
Norton secured 177 nominations; Walton- Desir, nine nominations; Forde, 20 nominations; Volda Lawrence, one nomination; Gary Best, two nominations; Carl Greenidge, four nominations; and Simona Broomes, two nominations. The 22nd Biennial Delegates Congress will be held on June 28-30, 2024.