PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton believes he is the best qualified person to lead the party and be the presidential candidate for the 2025 General Elections and therefore should be re-elected on that basis when the Congress is held this year.
It has been established that Norton will face a challenge from executive member and lead person on legal matters Roysdale Forde. But when asked whether she would dip her toes in the leadership race, popular member Amanza Walton-Desir said her current position was one of humility and therefore she would not answer at this time. She said she preferred to wait and know what the delegates wanted first because choosing a leader was a decision for them.
A date has not yet been given for the PNCR’s Congress, but Norton said that it will be held before the 31st of August, this year. It is expected that out of the Congress there will also be the selection of the presidential candidate for the 2025 General Elections. Party sources have said that a decision on if there will be primaries for that post will be made after the Congress once the delegates have chosen their leader and executives.
Norton posited that he should be both party leader and presidential candidate.
“In 2021, I was elected by the members of the party in a landslide victory and the members felt I was best suited. When I was elected, it was on the promise to engage them across the country… They thought then I was the most experienced and best suited. I can list more but it is on that basis I will be reelected,” Norton said.
“…You are also looking at a possible presidential candidate who has to know national and international politics. I don’t think there is anyone in the party who is more qualified than me to deal with national and international politics.
“I want to remind people that when I became leader, the international community was not engaging us. They would come and not engage the then leadership of the party. We worked assiduously with the international community and they now engage us with many or all issues so there is evidence that the party has improved its stature in the society,” he added.
Listing other achievements, Norton said that he had also made plans to “reestablish the infrastructure” of the party and was making strides in doing so. What isn’t completed now, he promised, will be, should he be elected again.
“Congress Place was left to deteriorate. It is being redone and rebuilt by this current leadership of the party,” he expressed.
Cusp
Forde, who did not respond to questions from this newspaper on the issue, had earlier said that he was not afraid to compete with Norton.
In a press release he issued late last month, the MP had stressed the importance of his party’s upcoming Congress, and the decisions that would be taken. “At present we stand on the cusp of a pivotal moment in our party’s and the nation’s history. The actions we take and decisions we make over the next few months should not be taken lightly,” he wrote.
He was open about his intention to be part of the process of change and to put his shoulder to the wheel. “I stand before you with a great sense of purpose and resoluteness; purpose to be part of a much needed process of change and a resoluteness to work tirelessly with every member of the PNCR to make that a reality,” he wrote.
Forde referenced the party’s Constitution Article 15, Section I, which speaks to the authority vested in the Biennial Delegates Congress, and Section 4 which gives the Congress the authority to elect a party leader and the Central Executive Committee. “It is on these bases that I hereby announce that I am making myself available for nomination to contest for the position of leader of the People’s National Congress Reform when Congress is officially announced,” he stated.
Notice was taken of the relatively short time between the Congress and the National and Regional Elections which are due in 2025, with the understanding that the process to regain the presidency must begin now.
The MP noted that in his interactions during his travels across the country, party comrades and supporters of the coalition were demanding an approach that not only holds the People’s Progressive Party accountable, but also an approach that imbues hope in the hearts and minds of Guyanese. Such an approach, he posited, must show “unity, strength, collectivism, integrity and patriotism,” he urged that to build this future, “we must regroup, refocus and rebuild.”
He sees regrouping as a crucial aspect of the party’s political endeavour, not only as a political strategy, but as a testament to its collective strength and resilience. “The PNCR has a rich history and a diverse array of perspectives that make us strong. It is therefore critical that we come together, to regroup and realign our efforts in pursuit of our shared values and goals for the betterment of the people,” he wrote.
He also posited that unity within the party should not just be a “mere aspiration,” but must be seen as a “fundamental necessity” for the PNCR to achieve meaningful progress and enact positive change, both for itself and the nation.
Further, regrouping entails bridging divides, building consensus, and harnessing strength of unity. This will add to the efforts made to forge a path forward that prioritises the well-being and prosperity of all Guyanese. “So it is important that we regroup not as factions or individuals, but as a united force, not just to present a unified front, but to be the united front that addresses the very issues that affect the livelihood of the people of this nation,” Forde said.
With regard to refocusing, the release acknowledged that political parties face myriad challenges both internally and externally from which the PNCR was not exempt. However, it is during challenging times and moments of uncertainty that it must refocus its energies and realign its priorities.
It also means that the party must recommit itself to the core values and principles as well as the putting aside of personal agendas and egos for the greater good of the party and the people of the nation. This means constantly engaging in “constructive dialogue”, actively listening to diverse perspectives, and always finding common ground to move forward.
It was also explained that such refocusing cannot occur in isolation, hence the necessity to regroup. “As we refocus internally we must also refocus our attention on the issues that matter most to the Guyanese people – the high cost of living, better healthcare, education, economic opportunities for all, and a clean voters list and there is much more that can be added to this list. We must refocus our strategies to effectively address these pressing issues and deliver real, tangible solutions that improve the lives of our fellow Guyanese. It is imperative that we refocus on what unites us, rather than what separates us, as a party and as a nation,” he stated.
Look forward
Norton said he was not worried about people contesting for the leadership, adding that campaigning has already begun for some.
The PNCR Leader said that he has been across the country meeting with people and is not afraid to go into PPP/C strongholds to share his message because the current economic and other struggles are shared by all and that he is a representative for all.
Lobbying support and spreading the PNCR’s message of unity, according to Norton, has not been limited only to this country as he wants the world to know that he has the interest of the Guyanese people at heart.
“We, as a political party, have been all across the country. You will recall that little was known at the time [of what the party was doing]. We didn’t have press conferences. We now have, as a party, press conferences and people look forward to information from the party. I believe that a lot of members of the party and supporters believe that I have the ability to engage the press and to do the things that are necessary…,” he stated.
“…We have begun to rebuild our youth arm. We have a number of young members that we are organising. I think that will contribute as a positive of what we have been doing. I would say to you that the party has been improving under my leadership and I think the members of the party will want me to return as leader.”
Questioned about his strategy in winning PPP/C strongholds and supporters when his party’s attempts to derail the 2020 General Elections overshadowed it and trust from the electorate might be lacking, he was quick to point out that he did not know about events of 2020 and can only guide on the way forward.
“Like I have said before, I don’t know about any alleged rigging of the 2020 elections… The recount has shown who attempted to rig. I can tell you right now that I am in the PPP stronghold about to do work with persons… I am in Black Bush Polder and I have been engaging all ethnic groups in this society across the country. Additionally, I have outlined programmes that cut across race so that people are embracing what we are doing,” he said.
“Many people believe that our people-centred development strategy is one that will put resources in the hands of the people of Guyana. I believe that we will go a far way in ensuring that the people see that we are all for the development of the people and not focused on political partisanship.”
