Fed up with a number of PNCR Leader David Granger’s unilateral decisions concerning party members and policies, executive member and key diaspora financier Basil Blackman on Wednesday resigned from his position.
“I have made this decision with a heavy heart but for good of my conscience, it is for the best. Several key decisions do not sit well with me and as such I feel as though the executive no longer serves its mandated purpose since decisions are made without consultations,” Blackman said in a letter, dated Wednesday 14th October, 2020.
Calls to Blackman’s mobile number by this newspaper went unanswered.
However, a source close to Blackman and who is also a PNCR executive told Stabroek News that Blackman was “just one of many in the party that is really fed up and frustrated at the leadership under Comrade Granger”.
The source said that there is currently “a big division in the party” among membership in both Guyana and the US on decisions made by Granger and that they would “not be surprised” if other resignations “are in short order”.
Pressed on if the division was caused through the selection of parliamentarians by Granger, who is Leader of the APNU+AFC list, the source would only say “it was not caused by that action but includes that action. There is a difference”.
In his letter, Blackman said that he would be stepping aside to make way “for a younger candidate” but will continue to serve in the best interest of this country.
Analysts have said that the exclusion by the PNCR of senior party officials, such as Volda Lawrence, Basil Williams and Amna Ally, from its list of parliamentarians is intended to pave the way for former Minister of State Joseph Harmon to play the lead role in the House for APNU+AFC. He was subsequently named as Opposition Leader.
This gambit, analysts said, underlines the pivotal link between former President Granger and Harmon, which was evident from the day APNU+AFC entered office in 2015 and the latter was named Minister of State and seen as a likely successor to Granger.
With Granger shunting aside top party leaders from the MPs list, analysts said it was left to be seen whether there is pushback against him and Harmon from the PNCR, which has seen its credibility left in tatters after a failed secure a rigged victory for the APNU+AFC at the March 2nd general elections.
Granger’s actions had angered some of the party’s supporters, most of whom supported Lawrence in her successful bid for the PNCR’s Chairmanship when she defeated both Williams and Harmon in August of 2018.
Party executive James Bond had taken to social media and continues to vent his disquiet at Granger’s “poor leadership” and seeming shunning of Lawrence, whom Bond feels has been “most loyal” to the party throughout.
