“No to bullies, I stand proudly with President Irfaan Ali” – PNC MP Geeta Chandan-Edmond breaks ranks

…endorses 2nd term for Pres Ali, cites conscience over politics

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Geeta Chandan-Edmond on Monday night rose in the National Assembly to throw her support behind President Dr Irfaan Ali for a second term in office.
“President Ali has earned his second term and Guyana deserves nothing less. Under his leadership, we are witnessing real change,” Chandan-Edmond, former General Secretary of the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) expressed.

Chandan-Edmond explained that “Guyana is my home. I love this land deeply…I will always bat for Guyana; I will always stand for what is right.”
This commitment to serving Guyana, she noted, transcends political loyalties. She noted that her decision to endorse President Ali was made last Saturday, when she had a dialogue with her conscience.
“I dream of a transformational Guyana, a nation where every child, regardless of your birthplace or background has access to the best of education, best of healthcare and best of opportunities…I want a Guyana that delivers for everyone…So how do we get there?”
Chandan-Edmond said President Ali and the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) have proven their ability to lead this country through transformation for all.
The Opposition MP also reflected on the walkout staged by her colleagues on the other side of the House during the sovereignty motion, expressing his apology to the nation for her role in that “disgraceful” action.
Chandan-Edmond lamented that the Opposition choose politics over patriotism. According to Chandan-Edmond, the Opposition’s actions were a “betrayal of our sacred duty”.
“While President Ali was defending our sovereignty, rallying international support…the opposition faltered. So let the record reflect tonight, I stand proudly with President Ali, I stand with his leadership and I stand with his vision,” she added.
Chandan-Edmond also reflected on the bullying she was subjected to earlier this year when she supported Budget 2025.
“Not a single voice rose in condemnation when I was attacked with vile, racist and derogatory words simply because I stood for what I believed in…,” she noted.
According to Chandan-Edmond, her decision is not about politics.
“…it is about conscience, it is about country,” she said.
“No to bullies, I stand proudly with President Irfaan Ali,” she added, even as the Opposition MPs walked out after they realised that she was about to endorse President Ali.
In December 2022, Chandan-Edmond had resigned from her post as General Secretary of the PNC/R.
Her resignation reportedly stemmed from concerns expressed by senior members of the party about her performance. Up to the time of her resignation, she was on leave of absence from the party.
In January 2022, the former Magistrate had replaced longstanding PNC/R Member Amna Ally, who had served as the party’s General Secretary since June 2017.
Chandan-Edmond had worked in the then Ministry of the Presidency (now Office of the President) under then Minister of State Joseph Harmon while the coalition was in office, and had served on State Boards and Commissions.
Her appointment to the position of that party’s General Secretary had come on the heels of the resignation of the incumbent the late Amna Ally as Chief Scrutineer for the APNU/AFC.