For the Good of the PNCR, Norton Must Go

Dear Editor,

As members of the Henrietta PNCR Group, we listened attentively to Mr. Aubrey Norton’s recent interview on KAMS TV. Unfortunately, rather than inspiring confidence in the future of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), his comments served only to reinforce concerns that many party members have been expressing for years.

Since assuming the leadership of the PNCR, Mr. Norton has presided over a period marked by division, internal conflict, and declining confidence among members. In Region Two, there is a widespread perception that the party’s organizational structures have deteriorated significantly. Today, there is little evidence of the strong and vibrant leadership that once characterized the PNCR in the region. Many longstanding members believe that everything the party once stood for in Region Two has been weakened under the current leadership.

Mr. Norton speaks frequently about democracy and unity, yet many members continue to question whether these principles are being genuinely practiced within the party. Rather than allowing members to freely choose their preferred leaders, concerns remain regarding the handling of internal party processes in both 2021 and 2024. Many party supporters believe that these processes were manipulated to produce predetermined outcomes rather than reflecting the true will of the membership.

Equally troubling is the manner in which several respected party stalwarts and leaders have been sidelined. Individuals such as Comrades Lawrence, Ferguson, Jones, and others who have given years of dedicated service to the PNCR appear to have been marginalized under Mr. Norton’s leadership. This has fostered a perception that dissenting voices are unwelcome and that vindictive politics have replaced inclusive leadership and meaningful engagement.

Listening to Mr. Norton on KAMS TV last Tuesday was, for many of us, deeply disappointing. His remarks appeared disconnected from the realities confronting ordinary party members across the country. While he spoke about unity and rebuilding, many members continue to ask a simple question: rebuilding what, and with whom?

Since the era of our Founder Leader, the late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, the PNCR has faced many challenges. However, many members now view Mr. Norton as one of the weakest leaders the party has ever had. A leader’s responsibility is to unite, inspire, and engage the membership. Yet there remains a growing sentiment that Mr. Norton has failed to meaningfully engage party members and has instead deepened existing divisions.

His comments on democracy were particularly concerning. Democracy within the PNCR cannot be discussed credibly while General Council meetings remain outstanding and key party structures remain dormant. Members are also concerned by his suggestion that Congress may not be held until 2027. Such a position raises serious questions about accountability, transparency, and respect for the party’s constitutional processes.

We must also remember the events that preceded Mr. Norton’s rise to leadership. Many will recall the relentless efforts undertaken to remove former leader David Granger and others within the party’s leadership structure. Mr. Norton and his supporters visited regions across the country seeking support for a motion against Mr. Granger. Ultimately, those efforts failed. Yet today, the very principles of consultation and inclusion that were once demanded appear absent under the current administration.

Mr. Norton also spoke about vision. However, after years in office, many members are still waiting to hear a clear and comprehensive vision for the future of the PNCR and Guyana. Vision requires more than slogans; it requires leadership, strategy, and the ability to inspire confidence. Many members believe that instead of rebuilding the party, Mr. Norton has contributed significantly to its decline.

One of Mr. Norton’s favourite expressions has been, “For Guyana to go, the PPP/C must go.” We respectfully submit that many party members now hold a similar view regarding the PNCR’s future. If the PNCR is to breathe again, reconnect with its membership, restore internal democracy, and reclaim its relevance, then new leadership is required.

For the PNCR to move forward, Mr. Aubrey Norton must step aside.

Yours truly,
Members of the Henrietta PNCR Group
Region Two, Guyana