PNC attempts damage control, claims youth-focus for MPs’ choice

After axing old guard

Amid major strife within the party over the unilateral selection of the new parliamentarians and the sidelining of old ones, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has issued a statement contending that “youth” was a major criterion in the decisions taken.

In the list of its nominated parliamentarians released by A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC), 22 come from APNU’s side and nine are from the AFC.
Some of the well-known names making the final cut for APNU are former Minister of State Joseph Harmon, former Education Minister Nicolette Henry and former Foreign Affairs Minister Karen Cummings. In addition, former Public Service Minister and Working People’s Alliance (WPA) member Tabitha Sarabo-Haley was also included.
This newspaper was told that Harmon is tipped to be Opposition Leader. However, he will have a relatively fresh and inexperienced team around him as most of the nominees are debut parliamentarians. In addition, there has been criticism from within the party itself that a number of stalwarts were passed over by the party.
In a statement explaining the selections, APNU/AFC said that it is looking to rebuild with a fresh, “youthful” team. According to the coalition, the team it selected for Parliament is the face of the future and the party has taken the bold step forward in embracing that future.

The party reminded that former President Granger has always said young people must be prepared to take up the mantle of leadership. This is despite the persistent criticism Granger has faced during his presidency for packing his Cabinet with the elderly.
Moreover, the party hinted that it’s “new” crop of parliamentarians will be required to do more groundwork.
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. Attorney-at-law and Senior Counsel, Roysdale Forde, has also been included

Among the names that were excluded from the list is APNU/AFC 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 following the party’s crushing loss at the March 2 elections, but had always maintained that he is going nowhere.

War on Granger
Also absent is former Attorney General Basil Williams, a former Chairman of the PNC who lost numerous significant legal battles for the former Government. Another name that was axed from the list 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, in what has now evolved into a major power struggle between leading factions of the party, took to social media on Monday blasting his party for snubbing Lawrence, widely seen as a powerhouse in the PNC and a potential Opposition Leader. 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.
Bond went on to warn Granger that he was “coming for you” and that he would be boycotting party activities. He blamed Granger’s leadership for the party’s loss at the polls and questioned who the party would call upon to organise protests in the city.
In his latest social media post on Tuesday, Bond suggested that PNC Chairwoman Volda Lawrence was excluded from the list because if she was selected, she would have been made the Opposition Leader; the first woman to have been appointed to such a position in Guyana’s history.
“They know if you go to Parliament you would have had to be made Opposition Leader. The first woman OL in our Parliament’s history. #WomenDenied #fascist,” Bond shared in a Facebook post earlier today.
Lawrence’s exclusion came as a surprise to many since she is widely viewed as very influential within the party in terms of mobilising its support base. (G3)