64th anniversary of party: “Political confrontation will lead us nowhere” – PNCR Chair on party infighting

…as Granger speaks against factions in veiled jab at rivals

People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence led from the front during the party’s 64th anniversary ceremony on Tuesday, calling for an end to the political confrontation she noted was a liability to the party.

The PNCR held its 64th anniversary ceremony at Congress Place, Sophia on Tuesday, and the small gathering was addressed by various leaders. While there, Lawrence used the opportunity to call for unity and a cessation of the confrontational politics.
“…it is clear that political confrontation will lead us nowhere. Our actions must be set towards unification. We want to proceed in a way that will enable everyone to benefit. At least this should be our goal,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence, who formerly served as Public Health Minister, also spoke of the need for the PNCR to expand its reach as a political party. Additionally, she noted that the party needs to improve on its organization in order to better serve the country.
“We must expand the reach of the PNCR and allow our principles and commitment to the people of Guyana to dominate the political realm, and improve the lives of all Guyanese,” the PNCR Chairperson said. “From this historical starting point, our personal commitment as well as our responsibility to all Guyana must include working to have a more organised and mobilised party, united in its efforts to advocate for its membership and all Guyanese.”
Meanwhile, party leader former President David Granger, who is taking a leave from politics, had a prerecorded message for the ceremony.

Anti-factionalism
In what appeared to be a jab at his rivals for the leadership position ahead of the biennial congress, Granger spoke against factions within the party.
“Our founder Forbes Burnham, at the party’s first biennial delegates conference in 1975, warned of the menace of factionalism. I quote: ‘To be sponsoring and joining factions in the party is to indulge in anti-party activity, calculated to weaken the party. There may be different motivations, some springing from personal ambitions, others from minority positions primarily held. Whichever it may be, the result is undesirable and deleterious’,” Granger said.

Following the loss at the 2020 polls, the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) faction of the coalition has been falling apart, as two of the five parties that constituted the partnership resigned, citing the dictatorial nature of the PNCR. Several senior and longstanding party members have also left the PNCR, blaming Granger for the fallout within the party after he had handpicked the list of Opposition Members of Parliament and excluded seasoned party leaders.
The division further widened after senior members of the party criticised Granger in July for adding two new “shell” parties to the APNU, and accused him of wanting to run the party as a “one-man show”. Arising out of that situation was a No-Confidence Motion brought against Granger by the party’s Georgetown district.
The PNCR Leader, during a subsequent edition of his weekly programme in July, acknowledged that there might be some opposition towards him within the party. At the time, he claimed to be unaware of any NCM against him within the PNC.
But amid this internal power struggle, there has been mounting pressure for the party to host its Biennial Congress for new leadership to elected. But the PNCR Leader has cited COVID-19 as the reason behind the delays.
PNC’s last biennial congress was in 2018, when Granger was returned unopposed as Leader of the party. The PNCR Central Executive Committee (CEC) has since agreed that the party’s 22nd biennial congress should be held by the end of November 2021, but not later than December 13, 2021.
Unlike in 2018, when he was returned as Leader uncontested, Granger now faces at least two challengers for the post of Leader. CEC member Dr Richard Van West-Charles threw his hat in the ring in June, making him and party stalwart Aubrey Norton the two executive members of the party who have indicated their interest in the top job. (G3)