wo prominent stalwarts of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) have broken their silence with urgent appeals for unity and reform, warning that the party risks further decline if it does not confront internal fractures and reconnect with its grassroots base.
Former Parliamentarian Annette Ferguson, in a strongly worded letter, insisted that despite its current struggles, the PNCR remains the only “mass-based political organisation in Guyana with such a resilient and enduring system.” Pointing to the party’s electoral track record—from 22 seats in 2006 to 33 seats and government in 2015—she declared: “No one should ever write off the PNCR.”
Ferguson acknowledged the party’s challenges but called on members to resist despair: “As a stalwart, I will continue to serve, regardless of the difficulties. With renewed spirit and vigour, I am convinced that the PNCR will rise again.” She urged supporters not to let “the legacy of our Founder Leader, the late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (LFSB), die,” stressing that only unity can restore strength.
Meanwhile, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde issued what he termed “a clarion call” for deep reform, framing the party’s recent electoral defeat not as failure but as a moment of reckoning. “This is no moment for despair or finger-pointing,” he wrote. “This is grassroots politics at its core—a time to convene under the shade of mango trees, bottom house, on front porches, in community halls, wherever to confront hard truths.”
Forde argued that the PNC/R has drifted from its working-class roots, warning that elections had “laid bare fissures in our foundation.” He called for sweeping changes, including open primaries, term limits for party officials, stronger anti-cronyism measures, and greater youth leadership.
“Mediocrity is not our destiny,” he wrote, urging the party to reflect Guyana’s “rich mosaic: all six races, coastal and interior, rich and poor alike.”
He also blasted the governing PPP/C’s recent ministerial shuffle as “an affront to every hardworking Guyanese,” accusing it of entrenching cronies at the expense of competence. “When loyalty supersedes competence, our schools falter, hospitals overflow, and corruption pervades,” Forde charged.
Both Ferguson and Forde’s interventions come as the PNCR faces increasing turbulence under the leadership of Aubrey Norton, with resignations, public criticisms, and waning confidence among some members.
Ferguson sought to rally disheartened supporters by recalling the party’s history of resilience, while Forde insisted the path forward must be bold, inclusive, and uncompromising in integrity.
Touching on the national scene, Forde warned that “Our people are not merely whispering for change—they are roaring from the rooftops,” Ferguson echoed the sentiment: “We cannot remain divided, for in unity there is strength.”
Their messages, strikingly aligned despite different emphases, signal acknowledgement of concerns that the party’s is being challenged at this time and has to rethink strategy or risk losing relevance in Guyana’s fast-changing political landscape
