“It has been a hectic decade for me, I need to rest” – Granger

– proceeds on leave of absence
– Volda Lawrence to be “pro tem leader”

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and former President David Granger has confirmed reports that he has gone on leave of absence from September 1, 2021, but did not say for how long.

A statement on Friday from the PNCR said it is a temporary leave of absence so that the party leader can enjoy a brief vacation right here in Guyana.
There have been several reports about Granger proceeding on leave especially at a time when the party is embroiled in an internal power struggle and in upheaval over a series of issues including the hosting of its Biennial Congress.
But during this week’s edition of the PNCR’s “The Public Interest” programme on Friday, Granger rubbished claims that he is abandoning the party, noting that he is only taking some time off after having been on the go in the political scene for over a decade.
This, he recalled, started with the campaign for the 2011 elections which commenced one year prior. At the time, he was elected PNCR’s Presidential Candidate and then became the front runner for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for the 2011 election. He was appointed Leader of Opposition after the party lost that election but won majority seats in the 10th Parliament.
In total, Granger led the party into three General and Regional Elections – 2011, 2015 and 2020; the latter two in coalition with the Alliance For Change as the APNU/AFC. He also led the coalition through two Local Government Elections in 2016 and 2018 while in Government between 2015 and 2020.
Additionally, Granger was also elected as PNCR’s Leader consecutively at the party’s 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Biennial Delegates’ Congresses.
“I have been on the go for over 10 years… I was leader of the Opposition, I was President of Guyana so it has been a hectic decade for me, and I feel that at this time I need to go on vacation,” he posited.
The former Head of State reminded that while in office, his Administration had adopted a policy to ensure that public servants utilise their annual leaves, and sent those with accumulated leave off to take them.
He emphasised on the importance of taking time off to rest from a hectic life.
“I just need to rest and I haven’t resigned from the People’s National Congress, I haven’t demitted office. I have just gone on leave. Like all human beings in busy occupation need to go on leave, just like that I need to go on leave. So, there is nothing surreptitious about my going on leave. I just want to spend some quiet time with my wife and look forward to returning to my job,” the PNCR Leader posited.
Following the loss at the 2020 polls, the PNC-led APNU fraction 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 some members of the PNCR’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) criticised Granger in July for adding two new “shell” parties to the APNU and accused him for 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.
“Right now, I don’t discount the fact that there might be some opposition to me,” Granger had contended.
But amid this internal power struggle, there has been mounting pressure for the party to host its Biennial Congress for a new leadership to elected. But the PNCR Leader has cited COVID-19 as the reason behind the delays.
In fact, a special committee was set up to look into the safe hosting of congress and according to reports, the findings have been submitted to be reviewed by the party’s leadership. But with Granger now on leave of absence, some members are upset over the further delays in coming to a final decision on congress.
However, there is another section of the PNCR Executive that has been in support of Granger and in a statement on Friday, came to his defence for taking leave.
“As Leader of the Opposition and as President of Guyana for much of the past ten years, Mr. Granger has had a steady governmental work schedule and during this long period, has never taken a vacation. He has now decided to take this opportunity to proceed on leave so that he can enjoy a period of well-deserved rest and attend to personal matters. Mr. Granger has not demitted office as Party Leader,” the missive detailed.