Jermaine Figueira, long-serving Member of Parliament and prominent figure within the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), officially resigned from the party, the National Assembly last Saturday, without explanation. In a statement issued today Figueira said he has also resigned from all other offices held within the part, citing a series of principled disagreements with the current direction of the PNCR.
In a strongly worded missive Figueira described the resignation as a “matter of principle,” asserting that he could no longer, in good conscience, support what he views as a fundamental departure from the ideals of unity, ethics, leadership, and patriotism.
For years, “I have had the profound honour of serving the people of Guyana, particularly those of Linden and Region Ten, through various roles in the PNCR and the National Assembly,” Figueira said. “But this decision comes after deep moral reflection and a refusal to remain complicit in a trajectory that I believe undermines our democratic, ethical, and national ideals.”
Figueira attributed his decision to four key reasons:
- Erosion of National Unity:
He criticised the PNCR leadership for tolerating “rising ethnic antagonism” and embracing divisive ethno-political rhetoric, warning that such actions threaten Guyana’s pluralistic foundation. “This is not the movement I joined,” he said, calling the party’s failure to uphold national unity a “moral failure.” - Decline of Internal Ethics:
Figueira lamented a cultural shift within the PNCR from “principled deliberation” to “sycophancy” and “vindictiveness,” citing personal experiences of exclusion and the treatment of long-standing party members, including the late Amna Ally. “This is no longer a party anchored in discipline and dignity,” he noted. - Absence of Visionary Leadership:
Once seen as a vanguard of bold ideas and generational leadership, Figueira described the current PNCR as suffering from “intellectual inertia” and “political pettiness,” lacking the unity and innovation needed in a changing national environment. - Failure to Uphold National Duty:
In perhaps his strongest criticism, Figueira condemned the PNCR’s decision to walk out of Parliament during a national crisis—Venezuela’s renewed claim to Guyana’s territorial sovereignty. He called the move “a betrayal of the very ethos upon which the party was founded.”
Figueira emphasised that public service, for him, has always been a “sacred covenant with the people,” not a vehicle for ambition or convenience. He reaffirmed his commitment to the people of Linden, Region Ten, and the broader Guyanese nation, stating his intention to continue serving with integrity and hope.
“I do so not with bitterness,” he concluded, “but with renewed hope that we may yet build a politics defined by substance over spectacle, service over ambition, and people over power.”
Figueira’s resignation comes on the heels of marks a significant departure within the PNCR, raising questions about the party’s internal cohesion and future direction as Guyana continues to navigate major national and geopolitical challenges.
Figueria’s resignation follows in the footsteps of leaders such as Vanessa Kissoon, the late Amna Ally, Members of Parliament Natasha Singh-Lewis and Amanza Walton-Desir, as well as Region Four Chairman Daniel Seeram and Vice Chairman Samuel Sandy.
The PNCR has not yet issued an official response to Figueira’s resignation, and he has not publicly indicated his next steps or political intentions.
See full statement below
STATEMENT OF RESIGNATION
Jermaine Figueira
Over the years, I have had the profound honour of serving the people of Guyana, particularly those of Linden and Region Ten, through various roles in the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the National Assembly.
It is with immense gratitude to Almighty GOD, former President David Granger, the late Amna Ali, the PNCR, and the people of our great nation that I reflect on a journey defined by service, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the upliftment of our communities and the advancement of our country.
From the inception of my political life, my motivation has been grounded in a deep conviction to pursue genuine transformation and empowerment for our people; through infrastructural development, social and economic upliftment, and through spiritual groundings.
I have sought to lead and serve with fairness, humility, integrity, empathy, magnanimity, and a passion for building bridges across divides. Every effort I have made has been anchored in love for my community, my country, and respect for those who call it home.
On Saturday last, with a clear conscience and in unwavering fidelity to the people of Linden, Region Ten, and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, I tendered my resignation from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), from the National Assembly of Guyana, and from all offices held within the party.
This decision was not made lightly, nor was it born of personal expediency. Rather, it is the outcome of deep moral reflection, a re-examination of my obligations to principle and country, and a refusal to remain complicit in a trajectory that I believe undermines the democratic, ethical, and national ideals we are sworn to uphold.
Public service, to me, has never been a platform for ambition or convenience it has been and remains a sacred covenant with the people. That covenant demands integrity in word and deed, courage in moments of adversity, and an unwavering loyalty not to party machinery, but to the people of the 83 thousand square miles of the Cooperative Republic we call home. It is in honour of that covenant that I have withdrawn my membership from the PNCR, compelled by four fundamental and irreconcilable departures from principle:
Erosion of the Ideal of National Unity:
The leadership of the PNCR has, in recent times, exhibited a troubling tolerance for rising ethnic antagonism. In its alignment with elements espousing divisive ethno-political rhetoric, which corrodes the pluralistic foundation of our society, the party has deviated from the tenets of inclusive nationalism. What was once a platform for unifying vision now flirts perilously with sectarian dogma. This is not the movement I joined. The responsibility to defend and promote national unity is absolute; its abdication is a moral failure.
