Granger splits PNC: Volda Lawrence, Amna Ally, Basil Williams, Aubrey Norton snubbed

A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) has finished the list of proposed parliamentarians they have to submit to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), but that list has excluded some key names from the coalition’s top brass.
Among the names said to have been excluded from the list is the coalition party’s leader himself, former President David Granger. Granger had faced mounting calls from various quarters for him to step down from the leadership of the party, but had always maintained that he is going nowhere.
Also said to be absent is former Attorney General Basil Williams, who lost numerous significant legal battles for the then Government; a former Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). Another name said to be absent is PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence. Her exclusion, however, did not go down well with a section of the PNC party.
Former PNCR parliamentarian and Attorney-at-Law James Bond took to social media on Monday blasting his party for snubbing Lawrence, widely seen as a powerhouse in the PNC. He called it grossly disrespectful.
“It is grossly disrespectful to the members of the PNCR, the Georgetown District of the PNCR and the office of the Chairman of the PNCR to snub Lawrence for a seat in the National Assembly.”
“Time to rescue the PNCR from inept, ineffectual and aloof leadership. This is now a battle for the soul of what it means to be PNC. Enough of mediocrity. It is time I personally rewrite your legacy sir,” Bond said in his post.
Additionally, Bond, in a live video on Facebook, further expressed his dissatisfaction, warning David Granger and Amna Ally that “I want you to know that I am coming for you”.
The young politician contended that “David Arthur Granger, you are not my friend, Amna Ally, you are not my friend so whenever you see me know you are not looking at a comrade.”
Turning his attention specifically to former President Granger, Bond asserted that “Your leadership cost us an election…the reason we are in opposition is because of your leadership.”
In further venting his anger at certain members, including himself, being left out of the parliamentary list, Bond signalled his intention to boycott party activities, asking who will the party now call upon to organise protests in the city.
According to Bond, it is disrespectful that certain members were “snubbed”, especially so that they were not informed by the party, but had to read about it in the press.
Meanwhile, APNU/AFC’s Chief Whip in the 11th Parliament, former Social Protection Minister Amna Ally, was also excluded. When contacted by this publication, she confirmed that she is not returning to Parliament.
Another conspicuous exclusion from the list is former Minister of Youth Affairs Simona Broomes, who is currently before the courts alongside her driver, Dexter Austin on charges of assault and discharging a loaded firearm respectively. In fact, the pair made a court appearance before Magistrate Leron Daly on Monday, where they were both placed on bail.
However, former Minister of State Joseph Harmon, former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Karen Cummings and former Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan will be making a return. Former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and former Minister of Natural Resource Raphael Trotman are also slated to return.
Some new faces include General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Coretta McDonald, former Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond; former Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan; Juretha Fernandes and Devin Sears.
In addition, reports indicate that attorney-at-law and Senior Counsel, Roysdale Forde, has been included.

AFC “settle” for only 9 seats
Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday evening, the AFC Executive said that it recognises that the party could easily have chosen many more worthy of a seat in Parliament but, had to “settle” on nine. It added that the party will also have a rotation of seats where, midterm, some of the members will be considered to replace seated parliamentarians from the initial list.
Efforts to verify the full APNU list proved futile.

PPP/C MPs
Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is currently working on their list of parliamentarians. In an interview with this publication, Agriculture Minister and PPP Executive Secretary, Zulfikar Mustapha was optimistic that the list would be finished within days. He also made it clear that their list will be composed of fresh, high-calibre individuals.
“We have a lot of fresh faces, because those persons who were appointed as Ministers are new people. Young people and fresh people. So those are fresh faces. People like Sonia Parag, Susan Rodrigues, and other young people,” Mustapha said.
“You have Indar and a number of other young people who were appointed as Ministers. They will be in there. And as usual, our list reflects the diversity of our country and also youth and experience. Like Cabinet. Our Cabinet is a youthful Cabinet, but it also has experience.”
On August 5, President Dr Irfaan Ali swore in 19 members of his new Cabinet. Included in the group were several new, vibrant and youthful faces, who President Ali had lauded as bringing multifaceted skillsets and experience.
The new faces had included Hugh Todd, as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Vickram Bharrat, as Minister of Natural Resources; Charles Ramson Jr, as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport; Sonia Parag, as Minister of Public Service; Oneidge Walrond, as Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; Colin Croal, as Minister of Housing and Water; Susan Rodrigues, as Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water.
Other debutant Ministers were Dr Vindhya Persaud, as Minister of Human Services and Social Security; Nigel Dharamlall, as Minister of Local Government and Regional Development; Anand Persaud, as Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development; and Deodat Indar, as Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
Meanwhile, returning Cabinet Ministers had included Dr Frank Anthony, as the new Minister of Health (former Culture, Youth and Sport Minister) and Robeson Benn, as Minister of Home Affairs (former Public Works Minister). Former Ministers who were returned to their previous Ministries were Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai.
The lists of prospective parliamentarians first have to go to GECOM, after which the names are extracted and sent to the National Assembly. This publication has confirmed with Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Issacs that he has so far received no names.
The joinder parties – comprising of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), A New and United Guyana (ANUG), and The New Movement (TNM), have already submitted the name of former National Toshao Council (NTC) Vice Chairman Lenox Shuman to represent them in Parliament. (G30)