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…says his unilateral decisions damaging party
Members of the People’s National Congress/Reform’s (PNC/Rs) Central Executive Committee (CEC) have stated their intention to elect “new leadership” of the party in a scorching letter on Thursday which called out General Secretary, Amna Ally and particularly, party leader, David Granger for making decisions without consultation.
The main contention, as highlighted, is with the decision of Granger to accept the recently formed parties of former government ministers, Jaipaul Sharma and Tabitha Sarabo-Halley into the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The new parties – Equal Rights and Justice Party (ERJP) and Guyana Nation Builders Movement (GNBM) – were formed back-to-back in June 2021.
In its statement, the CEC Members stated that Granger and Ally continue to disregard the decisions of the CEC which they are part of and subject to since the CEC is the highest decision forum in the absence of Congress and General Council.
“The most recent disregard is the ‘one man’ decision by Mr David Granger to go ahead and commit the PNCR to continue its involvement and accept two recently formed parties as part of the APNU. The actions of Mr David Granger are without any doubt unconstitutional and an affront to the membership of our Party. He will not be allowed to reduce the PNCR into a ‘One Man Show’,” the CEC stated.
It went on to state that Members know nothing about these parties and are unaware of the benefits they bring to the party that warranted their acceptance. The CEC described the two parties as suspected “shell parties” part of an ulterior motive.
Furthermore, the CEC stated that, at its last meeting, the former President and Ally were specifically mandated to put on hold any further involvement of the PNC/R with the APNU until the status of that partnership was fully discussed and decisions on the way forward are taken.
Despite this decision, it said Granger went ahead and publicly advertised the PNC/R’s acceptance of the two parties. As a result, he was reminded by the CEC of the decision taken and the CEC stated that it expected that that would mark the end of the matter until future discussions.
However, the Committee updated: “Members, we are now witnessing this latest disregard of the party’s decision, compounded by Mr Granger affixing the symbols of these two non-approved parties onto a programme purported to be that of the APNU for its 10th Anniversary Celebrations. That is a ‘one-man show’ which the party will not allow Mr Granger to get away with. Therefore, the party does not recognize these two shell parties as part of the APNU.”
Thursday, July 15, 2021, is the date advertised by the APNU for the celebration of its 10th Anniversary at its Agricola Party Office on the East Bank of Demerara. The in-person event is strictly invitational but a Zoom invite was made available to the public for virtual attendance.
Indeed, the poster advertising the event bore a changed APNU logo which included the symbols of the ERJP and GNBM.
The CEC Members, in their letter, stated that it is time for PNC/R Members to choose whether they want to stand on the side of history that supports good practice or on the side which disregards the PNC/R’s constitution through unilateral decision making.
It announced the existence of a Congress Convening Sub-committee which is working to hold Congress which it deemed as “overdue”. It also stated that CEC Members have begun to meet with party members and supporters across Guyana to inform them of the state of the party towards “saving” the PNC/R.
“A careful reading of the party’s Constitution indicates that no one is above it, not even Mr Granger…Members of the PNC/R, let us come together, hold Congress, elect new leadership, and continue the development of this great party to take back office at the next general and regional elections. Our great Part is larger than any ‘one man’,” the CEC stated.
