Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) David Granger says he will soon be heading to Linden to discuss and resolve issues within the party in the mining town.
His visit was prompted by a request from party members in Region 10 who communicated via a letter sent by Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon.
“I received a letter from Mr. Solomon and have since replied…I shall be meeting with them soon and I am confident that all matters and issues will be resolved,” Granger told Stabroek News yesterday.
There has been a rift between the PNCR and key Linden members since 2012. There was a showdown between the two sides during a meeting at the Mackenzie High School last October when the main gate to the school compound was ordered locked by Party Coordinator for the region Sandra Adams. The incident raised more questions about the party’s standing in one of its traditional strongholds.
One of the key “issues and matters” referred to in Solomon’s letter to Granger surrounds members who are disgruntled at how Adams was appointed and her “haughty” attitude to them. Since her appointment last year, tension has developed among PNCR members in Region 10 as some claim that not only was Adams forced on them as coordinator, but that they are being stymied and previous works nullified.
“This is not about power, it’s about principle. I am making it clear. We don’t have a problem with the coordinator or leader of the party but you just put her there without discussing with the people that’s like saying ‘Come low or high water I will give you who I think’,” member Leslie Gonsalves said in an interview via phone yesterday.
“If you want to have a coordinator, come talk to us, discourse man, explain to us that from assessment of the party structure… XYZ needs revamping and here is what we will do and this is who we feel is best suited for what we have planned,” he added.
Gonsalves said that Adams may believe that Region 10 PNCR supporters are her enemies but urged her to remember their common allegiance, the party.
“Sandra thinks people have personal problems with her. No one has bones with her. Let her talk but remember that it’s the one party all of us belong to and we are not going anywhere. We are not changing over to another party, we don’t want to disrupt this one, we just want to be heard by the leader and the issues looked at,” he added.
Last Thursday, Adams had reported to the police and alleged that the party’s regional office was vandalized as upon passing the building, she saw an open door that she had left closed with well secured locks. Her actions did not go down well with some members as they felt that Adams’ “running to the police” was set to create division among members and at the same time, have them labelled as criminals.
“The office was not vandalized, a door was opened and she run to call the police…look that same door she is speaking about, she had it changed to a steel door. Nothing was wrong with the door. It was a new door put on the building during the 2011 elections,” Gonsalves said.
“The woman have her own issues but no one has time to bother with her because where was she during the last elections when we were working hard here in the region? That building belongs to the party and to the people who worked hard to get the party where it is here, not to me or she,” he added.
Granger said that his understanding of Thurs-day’s events are that some “elements” broke down the door of the party building and that act was being investigated. He said that he understands too that the door was changed as it was rotting.
The PNCR leader pointed out that he is aware that there are problems within the party in Region 10 and hopes that after his meeting with the members, all issues will be resolved.
Solomon told Stabroek News that he looks forward to the meeting between Granger and members but fundamental matters will have to be dealt with head-on and resolved if the membership is to hold one accord.
“I believe issues we outlined are fundamental and have to be dealt with…such as allowing members to identify their leaders and allowing the party constitution to work,” Solomon said.
“If the party is to maintain its relevance among its membership then the leader will have to find a solution to the fundamentals we pointed out. The fact that we have reached a point where there will be a meeting is good…so we will wait and see what that meeting yields,” he added.
