Dear Editor,
Civilised society is governed by rules, laws, management systems and organisation structures. Aubrey Norton, who promised the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) party and nation on January 1, 2022 “he would essentially do whatever it takes to hold the government accountable” has proven disingenuous to the coalition partners. Two years later he has demonstrated a callous disregard for his own party constitution used to elect him leader. Supporters of the PNCR cannot continue to turn a blind eye on Mr. Norton’s executive lawlessness and breaches of the party constitution. The PNCR constitution is the cornerstone for building a democracy, sound management, and accountability. Aubrey Norton has failed to accomplish this. Under Mr. Norton’s leadership:
1. There has been no financial accountability for the party during the last two years.
2. The party constitution Rule 16 (4), which mandates an auditor be appointed by the first party general council convened March 2022 has not been respected. The party has no auditors and members don’t know how the party resources are being managed. This is a first in the party’s history.
3. The Party General Secretary was relieved from her constitutional duties as mandated by the constitution.
4. Only two party General Council meetings were held during the last two years even though the constitution mandated one every three months.
5. The Central Executive Committee meetings are sporadically held even though the constitution mandated one monthly.
6. The December, 2023 constitutionally due party Biennial Congress is being delayed until August 2024 so Aubrey Norton can create a paper membership to generate delegates to elect his dictatorship.
Supporters of the Party must ask if Aubrey Norton falsely stated to the nation that the Central Executive Committee decided to refer the decision to hold the constitutionally due Biennial Congress to the last November, 2023 party General Council. That General Council did not decide on the holding of the constitutionally due congress. There is an urgent need to restore institutional confidence in the main coalition partner as the credible alternative to win the next general election and rebuild the coalition platform.
The diaspora social activists are working in overdrive to bring awareness of the plight and issues affecting Guyanese under the PPP government. The PNCR supporters have a patriotic duty to unite for the restoration of constitutional order in the main coalition partner now. The crisis of our nation state is exacerbated by the failed leadership of the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, who has done little or nothing with the coalition partners to hold the government accountable.
The mismanagement of PNCR under Norton’s leadership and lack of supporters using their constitutional right to hold the government accountable is allowing corruption to run rampant and widen the gap between the rich and poor. The above being said, it is now critical for PNCR supporters to address the problems of the party under Aubrey Norton’s leadership with the collective spirit of all concerned Guyanese at home and in the diaspora.
Sincerely,
Egland Gomes
Brooklyn, NY
