–replaces him with interim committee

IN a manner reminiscent of previous incidents that led to internal conflict and disunity, the leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, has removed senior member Jermaine Figueira from his position as party leader in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
Figueira, in a comment made by invitation on Monday, affirmed that he has been replaced by an interim committee during the weekend, following an executive meeting.

In a written correspondence to this publication, a senior member of the PNCR expressed concern over Figueira’s removal from a senior position, emphasising a widening division that may have long-term consequences for both the party and Figueira’s political trajectory.
According to the letter, The PNCR leader, Aubrey Norton, claimed that Figueira was more focused on “social work” rather than political mobilisation.
According to the letter, Norton posited that the main duty of a party leader in a strategically important region is different from Figueira’s perspective, who sees political work as social work.

“I believe social work is an aspect of political work which is to address the needs of the people and I make representation where those representations are needed, I was somewhat perplexed hearing such a rumour coming from the leader,” Figueira said, adding:
“I do my work, if the leader don’t find it satisfactory I think the people of the community do, and the work I do on a consistent basis in helping the people in the communities I believe it is more appreciative than what the opinion of the leader may have to say in that regard.”
Earlier this year, Figueira was stripped of his portfolio as Shadow Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport; Nima Flue-Bess replaced him.

Norton’s leadership of the party has been heavily criticised both internally and externally from the inception of his tenure.
When asked to comment on the leader’s recent decision to remove him from several of his posts, Figueira said : ‘I just find the consistent action of the leader towards me unwarranted, so to speak.’
The level of scrutiny surrounding Norton’s leadership has intensified following the party’s congress in June.

Before the party’s election, Norton had been confronted with a substantial number of allegations pertaining to various violations.
Just mere days before the opening of the party’s congress , General Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams tendered her resignation from her post, while both of Norton’s competitors, Amanza Walton-Desir and Roysdale Forde flagged several concerns which ultimately led them to withdraw from the race for the party’s leadership.

Both Walton-Desir and Forde “suspended” their campaigns just days before the party’s congress was held, due to what they claimed were alleged irregularities and lack of transparency surrounding the congress.
While Norton returned to the helm of the party, several of its well-known executive members were not re-elected.