THE two candidates likely to become the next PNC leader, Roysdale Forde and Amanza Walton-Desir have withdrawn their candidacies.
What will be devastating in the PNC’s election campaign of 2025 are the reasons given by both former contestants and the reason by the former General-Secretary for resigning from that position.
Here are the words of Mrs. Walton-Desir: “Throughout my campaign, I have been dedicated to upholding the values of transparency, fairness, decency and integrity within our beloved party. However, recent developments which I am not at liberty to ignore, have raised serious concerns regarding the process.”

Here are the words of Forde on the reason for his withdrawal: “My decision is rooted in the fundamental principles of accountability, transparency and democratic governance, which I believe are essential for the integrity of the party’s electoral processes.” And this is what Dawn Hastings Williams wrote in her resignation as General Secretary: “I believe that the one-month period for preparation for such a congress can lead to confusion rather than having a fair and transparent process and outcome.”
Forde and Walton-Desir did not attend the opening of the congress. That act in itself points to a deeply divided party that cannot sustain itself just 17 months before an election. Forde and Walton-Desir are two of the biggest names in the present house of the PNC.

It is scientifically impossible (although human behaviour is not subject to scientific laws) for an electorate to vote for a party when three of its top leaders have resigned over two crucial values that govern organizational behaviour – transparency and accountability and all three inferred that such a situation cannot lead to a proper outcome of the congressional voting.
Despite people attending the congressional opening last Friday, PNC supporters can deny it all that they want, the reality in Guyana is that the PNC has imploded.

The chasms are going to get deeper and wider after Norton is acclaimed. I don’t know at the time of writing if there is going to be a sham election just for the purpose of saying that there was an election.
It happened before in 2003 when the PNC wanted the pretence of an election and Artie Ricknauth ran against Robert Corbin. He got 85 votes to Corbin 745. We may see a repeat of the Ricknauth saga today at the congress where an unknown figure will run against Norton, get 13 votes to Norton 998.
The PNC congress is set to destroy the electoral prospects of the PNC in November 2025. It is horrible self-delusion of all those today (Sunday) who will jump so high they may get stuck coming down when Norton is acclaimed or elected leader. Those emotions will not translate into election viability next year.

Mr. Corbin was elected PNC leader in a landslide in 2003 and in the forthcoming national election in 2006, the PNC lost six seats from the previous general election in 2001. It is going to be more than six losses in 2025. Here is where Norton would have won the battle but lost the war. After the 2006 defeat, Corbin made way for David Granger. Norton will become confirmed in his position at today’s congress but will have to leave in 2025.

Two scenarios face the PNC in next year’s election – a massive abstention of PNC supporters at the poll or a huge increase in votes for Irfaan Ali, taking him over the two-third mark.. Whether Ali gets the two-thirds or not, the PNC will hemorrhage parliamentary seats similar to the situation that destroyed Corbin’s standing in politics in 2006.
When the emotions die down after today, PNC supporters are going to live with nightmares when the 2025 campaign begins. Guyanese are not going to vote for a party that they believe once it gets into power, will use state power to stay in power forever. That is what happened in 2020. Sections of GECOM, the police and other elements assaulted the election to ensure the PNC stayed in power.

The PNC has done nothing to sway the nation that such a mentality has been exorcised from the soul of the PNC. The collective shadow of Forde, Walton-Desir, and Hastings-Williams will creep over the face of the PNC as the PPP bandwagon gets into overdrive. At each PPP campaign rally, that ghost will be shown to the people of Guyana.
In 2025, there will be no third party. It will be PPP versus PNC, and if you think Irfaan Ali can dance, you better watch his moves as the PPP’s revolving stage moves around Guyana in 2025. A two-thirds majority is facing Irfaan. The ghost of Macbeth is facing Norton.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.