THE recent resignations of Shurwayne Holder and Mervyn Williams from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) indicate much more than simple changes in personnel.
They further highlight the rapid decline of what used to be Guyana’s main opposition party. These resignations, which happened one after another, reveal the serious internal conflicts that have made the party unable to gain trust, even among its own leaders.

Williams, who received the second-highest number of votes at the party’s last Congress, announced his resignation during a live broadcast of his political show, Nation Watch. He referred to “unfortunate occurrences” that made it impossible for him to continue.

His timing was particularly damaging, as he announced his departure while featuring Terrence Campbell. Campbell is now set to lead APNU’s parliamentary team, even though he is a political newcomer who once threatened to “break the hands” of party leader Aubrey Norton during coalition talks with the AFC.
The next day, Chairman Shurwayne Holder resigned without giving a reason, further weakening Norton’s already shaky leadership. These consecutive departures highlight “growing internal discontent” within the PNC/R.

The announcement of the 12 individuals selected for APNU’s parliamentary seats has sparked criticism about the party’s internal issues.
Campbell’s rise—a former Alliance for Change (AFC) supporter who publicly criticised Norton’s leadership and said coalition talks were “untenable” just a year ago—shows a serious flaw in Norton’s judgment.

It is both ironic and tragic that Campbell, who was against Norton during coalition discussions, now leads PNC/R’s parliamentary delegation. This appointment does not show strategic renewal but rather a desperate move, indicating a party so lacking in capable leaders that it must rely on former opponents for key roles.
The electoral losses before these resignations provide important context. APNU’s dramatic drop from 31 seats in 2020 to only 12 in September 2025 marks one of the biggest political failures in Guyanese history.

The party not only lost its position as the main opposition but also lost traditional strongholds like Region 10 to the new We Invest in Nationhood party.
This electoral defeat has revealed the complete failure of Norton’s leadership. His struggle to maintain basic trust from senior party figures like Holder and Williams, who likely knew him best, raises serious doubts about his ability to rebuild the party, as he declared he was doing.
When a party chairman resigns without explanation, and a longtime leader publicly mentions “unfortunate occurrences” as reasons for leaving, it points to failures that go beyond just electoral strategy.

The current situation for the PNC/R goes beyond regular post-election reflection. It shows the complete breakdown within the party has been present during Norton’s time as leader.
The party that once earned the loyalty of many generations of Guyanese seems to have turned into a tool for personal ambition instead of public service, pushing away experienced leaders and welcoming opportunists.

The departure of Holder and Williams, following earlier resignations, show that PNC/R’s troubles go deeper than just losing an election.
They reveal a serious crisis in leadership, vision, and institutional integrity that Norton seems unable to resolve. Until the party honestly addresses these deep-rooted issues, it will continue to lose talent while heading towards further political irrelevance.