‘I will not be used as Van West-Charles scapegoat’ – Norton

….says Van West-Charles was pushing for meeting with PPP

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, while noting that PNCR’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) will be discussing Dr. Richard Van West-Charles’ withdrawal as an Advisor later today, made it clear that he will not be used as a “scapegoat.”
“As far as I know, there is really no problem but I reject Mr. Van West-Charles attempts to use me as a scapegoat to achieve his personal and other ends,” Norton told reporters during PNCR’s weekly press conference on Tuesday.
In a recent letter to Norton, Dr. Van West-Charles accused the leadership of the PNCR of sidelining him and repeatedly ignoring his proposals, though being appointed Advisor shortly after Norton’s elections.
The PNCR stalwart complained too that despite being out of the jurisdiction between December, 2021 and January, 2022, he dispatched a number of documents relating to the development of the party for Norton’s consideration but to date, a response has not been forthcoming. “A number of calls to you were also unanswered and unacknowledged. I returned to Guyana on January 13th 2022 and it was a most difficult experience of trying to reach you,” he further told Norton.

But during the press conference, Norton maintained that “there is really no problem,” while adding that the matter will come up for discussion during a meeting of the CEC Tuesday evening. He said, however, that Dr. Van West-Charles has been pushing for the leadership of the PNCR to meet with the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
“Mr. Van West-Charles has been pushing for me to engage the People’s Progressive Party through him, and I made it clear that I cannot engage the People’s Progressive Party without a decision of the Central Executive,” Norton disclosed.
According to him, he has the evidence on his phone. Dr. Van West-Charles said though being named Advisor, he was not afforded the courtesy of being informed about the party’s position on related matters, save and except by way of the press. “Many members and supporters presume that I am au fait with all that has been going on within the CEC and the responses to matters thereof. This is quite unfair and unfortunate to me in my putative role as Advisor,” Dr. Van West-Charles said in the correspondence.

He told Norton that it would appear that the leadership of the party does not recognize the importance of re-engaging in a culture of consultation and advice. “More so, it appears that the role of the Central Executive Committee remains diminished since none of the important political matters which you have responded to in the public domain, have benefitted from the consultation and discussion critical to the guidance and strategic focus the Party urgently needs!” he said.But Norton refuted that the claim that the CEC is left in the dark on critical party decisions.