Aubrey Norton Leader of the PNC/R: Why he should stay with elections being four to six months away

Dear Editor, 

I read letters in the Kaieteur News titled ‘Aubrey Norton Leader of the PNC/R: Why he should go’ and in  the Village Voice online and ‘Why Aubrey Norton should step aside for another presidential candidate’ by  one Hector Stoute Jr. As a citizen who would also like to see a formidable opposition to the PPP/C government in the upcoming 2025 General and Regional Elections, these are my arguments on why Aubrey  Norton should remain as the presidential candidate for the Coalition, at this stage. 

Mr. Stoute as a retired member of the US Army, and I think one who has had some combat experience, would appreciate the difficulties in removing a General from the frontline of a battlefield in the middle of  intense assault in a war. I have not had any combat experience, and I hold no brief for Mr. Norton, but my  experience over the years with decision-making, processes, organizational behaviour, societal behaviour  and people generally, have taught me some fundamental things, such as the difference between the right  decision and the best decision under the circumstances, as well as timing is everything. 

Elections will be held between September to November in about four to six months, and the Opposition has  two key disadvantages: One, they are not in government with unlimited resources at their disposal; and two,  they have the almost impossible task of building, managing and sustaining a coalition. If Aubrey Norton  should step aside, who will be put as the presidential candidate? Yes, there are options, Dr. Terrence  Campbell as a consensus candidate or Mr. Nigel Hughes from the AFC but there will be major issues with  this approach. I have come to accept that Aubrey Norton is a leader with followers and any decision on  whether he remains the presidential candidate or not will have fallout. Dealing with this fallout can run for  months into elections with emotions running high and much unnecessary disruptions. 

Many PNC members and supporters felt that they give an opportunity to a ‘relative outsider’David Granger and are not satisfied with some of what obtained under his government from 2015 – 2020, hence, many of  them are cautious about putting another ‘outsider’ as the presidential candidate.  

From a more practical standpoint, the PNC/R is the largest opposition party and the only party at its best that can challenge the PPP/C at an election, at this point. Mr. Aubrey Norton was elected as the leader of  that party and therefore has the legitimacy to run for president. The party Congress also made a decision  that only he can change that position. If attacking him could have made him change his mind that would  have happened already. In my view, Aubrey Norton has made up his mind and many PNC members and  supporters have made up their minds also, so what are the next best options, let’s be pragmatic. 

I would suggest building a strong team around him. Aubrey Norton surely has weaknesses, but he also has  strengths. Time is of the essence, so let’s focus on what we have control over, at this stage, if the goal is to  win the upcoming elections. The proposed Coalition government top leadership team is as follows: Aubrey  Norton as President; Nigel Hughes as Prime Minister, First Vice President and Minister of Legal Affairs  and Attorney General with responsibility for constitutional reform or Nigel Hughes as Prime Minister, First  Vice President and Minister of Home Affairs with responsibility for constitutional reform; Dr. Terrence  Campbell as the Second Vice President and Senior Minister of Natural Resources and Coalition Manager  (Meaning that Dr. Campbell will have the responsibility to ensure that the Coalition is managed, sustained and is functional as a government); Dr. Yog Mahadeo, Senior Minister, Public Communication (Also with  responsibility for Information Technology Communication and Innovation) or Senior Minister of Business  (Commerce and Industry); Ganesh Mahipaul, Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs; and  Amanza Walton-Desir as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

However, if by May 31, there is no agreement on a coalition between PNC/R and AFC, then the proposal  for a coalition is as follows: A PNC/R+APNU Coalition which could include the following: Aubrey Norton 

as President; Dr. Yog Mahadeo as Prime Minister and First Vice President and portfolio on Public  Communication with responsibility for Information Technology Communication and Innovation; Dr.  Terrence Campbell as the Second Vice President and Senior Minister of Natural Resources and Coalition  Manager (Meaning that Dr. Campbell will have the responsibility to ensure that the Coalition is managed,  sustained and is functional as a government); Ganesh Mahipaul, Minister of Governance and Parliamentary  Affairs; and Amanza Walton-Desir as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.  

If the PNC/R+APNU Coalition wins, ministerial positions can be offered to the AFC, such as Nigel Hughes  as a Senior Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General with responsibility for constitutional reform or  Minister of Home Affairs with responsibility for constitutional reform and David Patterson as Minister of  Public Works, etc. AFC members and supporters can also be offered positions as advisors, ambassadors, on  state boards, etc.  

I am on the ground, and there is no more time to waste on who should be the presidential candidate, a  decision has to be made, now. The fallout from trying to force Aubrey Norton to step aside would be a  serious distraction from developing a winning team and programme for governance and development.  

On the point of a vision and development policy positions, plan and programme, there are several ideas,  concepts, plans which can be translated into a substantial manifesto and national development plan. I am  saying to the PNC/R, AFC, APNU, coalition, opposition you can take our ‘Building Our Dream Guyana’ concept and programme and run with it as a campaign and national development theme. Also, we have  developed a framework for a 10 to 15 years ‘National Economic and Social Development Strategy/Plan’  which is proposed to be built on eight areas: The Green Economy, Blue Economy, Agricultural Economy,  Manufacturing, Oil and Gas Economy, Knowledge Economy, Service Economy, and Natural Resources  Economy; take it and run with it. The PPP/C has taken our ideas and is implementing them which has  validated that the ideas are sound. This is our contribution to the coalition government. 

A key tactic in negotiation is to give up one big thing, let’s say, for ten other smaller, but important things.  Let’s move on from who should be the presidential candidate, and hopefully gain many smaller but equally  important concessions, such as a strong diverse leadership team around Aubrey Norton as the presidential  candidate. May wisdom prevail. 

Sincerely, 

Citizen Audreyanna Thomas