Former PNCR Vice-Chair-man Vincent Alexander and supporters of his unsuccessful campaign for leadership have withdrawn from the party, while making renewed calls for it to embrace a new political culture.
Outraged by the PNCR’s decision to axe former executive James McAllister as a Member of Parliament (MP), Alexander told a news conference that he and other members of the campaign “can no longer be in service” to the party. He announced his resignation from the Local Government Reform Task Force, where he represented the party as Co-Chairman since its establishment. Additionally, he disclosed that he has not renewed his party membership since August last year, while other members of his team said they too allowed their membership to lapse. Among them was Julianne Gaul, who also resigned as a member of the Region Four Regional Democratic Council (RDC). She said she chose not to renew her membership to show solidarity with McAllister. “Those of us who constituted Team Alexander and remained in active service to the [PNCR], notwithstanding discrimination, vilification and even persecution, can no longer be in service to a party that merely gives lip service to the ideals that inspired our continued service…” Alexander said. “This is not a time for settling old political scores. This is a time for courageously tackling the fundamental problems that prevent the party from re-energising and rebuilding.”
The announcement came on the eve of today’s PNCR General Council, which is being held at the party’s Congress Place headquarters. When contacted yesterday, PNCR Leader Robert Corbin told Stabroek News that he had not seen the group’s statement and as a result could not comment.
McAllister’s seat was vacated this week after the party sent a notice of recall to the Speaker of the National Assembly. The decision was in keeping with a recommendation by a disciplinary committee, which was set up in keeping with a motion passed at the last biennial congress impugning the team for misconduct. The substance of the motion was “an expression of lack of confidence” in them for actions incompatible with party membership, including speaking with the media. The offences, the committee said, were committed in direct contravention of guidance given by Corbin and party Chairman Winston Murray that it would not have been in the interest of the party.
In addition to McAllister, other members of the campaign were reprimanded, with the committee finding that there was “no evidence of malice but one of poor judgment” in the cases against them. Among them were MP Deborah Backer, Ivor Allen, Hamley Case, former GYSM Chairman Chiyedza James and former GYSM executive members Peter Livingstone and Gaul. It also urged them to avoid recurrence, warning that the consequences would be treated seriously in the future. Three members – former executive members Joseph Hamilton and Dr Dalgleish Joseph and former GYSM Chairman Andrew Hicks – did not reply to summons to appear before the committee.
As a result of the situation, the PNCR has taken a decision that anyone renewing membership or applying to become a member of the party had to sign its code of conduct.
Alexander explained that the decision to withdraw from the party was not intended to undermine the PNCR, but was a reaction to its continued display of vindictiveness. He said while members of the team have continued to serve the party and others have retreated to private life, they have been persistently subjected to a “witch-hunt” for more than a year, culminating in them being found guilty and reprimanded.
He described the decision to remove McAllister from the National Assembly as part of a vendetta. He noted that McAllister was removed without a hearing from elected office in Region Three and also charged with 11 counts of indiscipline as well as two secret charges that were never communicated to him. He said the charges were heard in McAllister’s absence and his guilt determined. “…This dictatorial power, which is vested in the representative of the list, who in this instance is Mr. Corbin, exemplifies the political culture that needs changing,” Alexander declared, later adding that the party leadership did not seek any reconciliation before disciplining the members.
One of the reasons given by the party for McAllister’s recall was his absence at a number of parliamentary sittings and his failure to inform of his decision to travel overseas. Alexander, however, said McAllister attended the parliament up to the August recess and only missed the sittings that have been convened since then. Additionally, he noted that in the past members such as Myrna Peterkins and Lurlene Nestor were both allowed to remain as MPs despite prolonged absences.
In April last year, members of Alexander’s team approached the party leadership to notify the intention to nominate a candidate to challenge Corbin for the PNCR leadership at the party’s Biennial Congress. The challenge was organised around a platform that recognised the need for a new polity in the party and the country at large and for the commitments to democracy and free and fair elections to be realised.
Alexander put the party membership on alert that many of the core issues that formed the team’s platform and campaign have been completely ignored. He added that despite the best efforts of many, Corbin appeared to be mired in old habits and strategies. At the same time, he cautioned against viewing the team’s actions as having anything to do with personality. “[It’s] about the corpus of the party and how it acts in the political arena,” he said.
Of the team’s future, he said that they would join their colleagues engaged in private pursuits or would find other means through which they could fulfil their desires to render service to the people. Asked about the likelihood of him and the team forming a new political party, Alexander said it was not a move under consideration.
Although Alexander was nominated by the parliamentary opposition to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), he is not a representative of the party. It is a constitutional appointment and what is more, the law currently makes no provisions for term limits for members of the commission.
Case, Hicks, Gaul and former executive Sherwood Lowe were present at the news conference along with Alexander.
