Dear Editor,
I attended a meeting of members and supporters of the PNCR, which was held on Thursday, June 28, 2012, at the Bagotville Community Centre. This meeting was summoned by Mr David Granger as part of his campaign to become Leader of the PNCR.
Mr David Granger arrived at the venue in a car with APNU boldly emblazoned above the front registration number. He was attired in green and was accompanied by YCT members, some of whom were wearing APNU tops. There was absolutely nothing that was conspicuous to indicate that this was a team of PNCR operatives. As we entered the venue, we were each given a small pamphlet entitled, ‘Thank You Guyana.‘ It contained a photograph of Mr Granger and it was basically saying “thanks” to all who supported the APNU in the last elections.
The photograph and all of its words were in green and it was signed “David Granger – Presidential Candidate.“ That colour, as we all know, is the colour of the APNU. The pamphlet said absolutely nothing about the PNCR or what he intends to do if elected Leader of the PNCR.
When Mr David Granger took to the floor, it was less about what he would do as Leader of the PNCR, and more about who was annoyed because they were not selected for parliament, and who was of the opinion that being an MP was their birthright.
The PNCR’s Regional Chairman, Region 3, was the first person to speak. As Regional Chairman of the party, he has the responsibility of relaying membership application forms, completed nomination and delegates and observers forms, and other sensitive documents to the central secretariat. This is a clear conflict of interest which Mr Granger is accommodating.
Ms Amna Ally was the second speaker and was introduced as the assistant General Secretary. She publicly declared her support for Mr Granger. Ms Ally is also a member of the Credentials Committee within the Congress Committee. The Credentials Committee has the responsibility of verifying all the lists of delegates and observers to Congress and, ultimately, deciding who is eligible to vote. If this is not a conflict of interest, then Mrs Singh might as well be appointed Auditor General. Once again Mr Granger is accommodating this.
As if that is not enough, the most glaring example of a conflict of interest is the fact that Mr Granger, who is contesting for the post of Leader of the PNCR, is also the Chairman of the Congress Committee, which has overall responsibility for the upcoming Biennial Delegates Congress. Talk about conflict of interest! Dr Ashni Singh might as well be also given an overall responsibility for Auditor General.
When the floor was open for questions, Mr Granger entertained only one question and the meeting was brought to an abrupt end. We were told that he was late for another meeting. I later learnt that the same thing occurred at the other venues on the West Bank Demerara where meetings were held earlier in that said week.
I again attended a meeting of members and supporters of the PNCR which was held on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, at the Bagotville Community Centre. This meeting was summoned by Mr Carl Greenidge as part of his campaign effort for Leader of the PNCR.
After everyone was seated, Mr Greenidge approached each individual, greeted him or her and requested his or her name. Next, each attendee was presented with two pamphlets that basically set out his vision for the PNCR.
The pamphlets stated, among other things, that Mr Greenidge as leader of the PNCR will enhance the capacity of the PNCR; enhance the capacity of the GYSM and NCW; focus on increasing the support of the PNCR; prepare the PNCR for general elections as a partner of the APNU; mobilise regional resources to finance the PNCR; promote PNCR unity by working towards shared governance in the PNCR in accordance with the call for same at the national level.
The pamphlet further urged persons to support Mr Greenidge for Leader of the PNCR because the PNC/R needs a different person as leader; the task of Leader of the Opposition is to focus on the APNU and the Leader of the PNCR is to focus on the development of the PNCR and its arms, the GYSM and NCW. This separation will also ensure that there is more pressure on the government, since the APNU and the PNCR will be better organized and equipped to take political action.
When Mr Carl Greenidge took the floor, he expanded on all the above-mentioned points. He also went to great lengths to explain to all present the circumstances surrounding the controversial Public Accounts Committee’s vote. I must also state that Mr Greenidge spent more time responding to questions than he had spent in addressing us. What was even more remarkable and pleasantly surprisingly was that the next Leader of the PNCR spent an additional twenty minutes or so mingling with those who were in attendance. In Mr Granger’s case, after the meeting was brought to an abrupt end, he was out of the building and its environs within five minutes – real military-style precision.
Prior to, and up until, the last national and regional elections, a lot of PNCR supporters were firmly embedded in Mr Granger’s camp. Ever since the declaration of those results and the ensuing months, many have gradually lost confidence in his ability to lead, inspire and negotiate.
Electing him as Leader of the PNCR will be a retrograde step. ‘If you want to lead the people, you have to love the people. If you want to save the people, you have to serve the people.‘
Mr Greenidge fully understands the above and that is exactly the manner of man that the PNCR needs as its leader. Unless there is a strong and resurgent PNCR, the APNU will be nothing but a toothless poodle. The PNCR is the root system and trunk of the APNU tree.
Additionally, it is clear from the above that Mr Granger is comfortable when conflicts of interest suit him and is in collusion with other party operatives who are similarly culpable and who are part of his campaign team.
The decisions of Mr Granger in the coming days will tell us whether or not he will place his own interests over the interests of the PNCR and the APNU.
With the PNCR and APNU having different leaders, this would enable both organisations to have separate identities which means that the missteps of the one would not be wholly attributable to the other.
The PNCR cannot afford to continue to carry any more baggage. This is the time for the PNCR to cleanse itself and rebuild.
My only worry now is if the party will allow a transparent and fair election. This is required if the party’s credibility is to be intact.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Scotland
