Dear Editor,
Reports in the print media suggest that there has been a power struggle in the PNCR. Critics say that the party’s leader Mr. Aubrey Norton is still grounded in street politics and could not rise to create a national multiethnic party as well as produce an alternative development strategy for the country.
What role does policy formulation and analysis in any political party, including the PNCR, internal election process is difficult to determine. What is compelling is that leadership style, vision, and charisma are the dominant factors in voting preference. But what we do know also is that critics would not determine the leader of the PNCR, rather it is the PNCR delegates who have that privilege.
Mr. Roysdale Ford had signaled his leadership ambition since last year when he joined with other PNCR+AFC members to invite a 14-member US delegation of Legislators on a “fact finding” mission to inquiry into allegations of racial discrimination against Afro-Guyanese. He chaperoned the delegation to a few Afro-Guyanese communities in Guyana in the expectation to also stamp his authenticity on those communities.
Mr. Ford believes that his close association with that non-US government delegation would give him much political traction, especially among those segments of the population that are opposed to the PPPC government. Additionally, he had been writing letters in the press to enhance his political credentials. His announcement of running for the PNCR leadership is not surprising. That was predictable.
We have also learnt that Mr. Ganesh Mahipal has entered the race for the PNCR party top spot. A colleague says that he is a smart politician and is hoping to win the Vice-Presidential position. An alternative view is that Mr. Mahipal has joined the race to pull votes away from Mr. Norton and thus making his (Mr. Norton) run for leadership more problematic.
Whatever the maneuvers at the PNCR Parliamentary level, it is the regional delegates who would determine the person to lead the party into the 2025 election. And here is where Mr. Norton strength lies. Neither Mr. Ford nor Mr. Mahipal would be able to muster as many votes as Mr. Norton from the regional delegates. It is the regional votes that would give Mr. Norton a distinct electoral advantage.
Mr. Norton has gone further by subtly suggesting that his two challengers (Mr. Ford and Mr. Mahipal) might be afflicted with integrity concerns, while Mr. Norton thinks that he is beyond reproach in this regard. The suggestion by a few PNCR supporters that Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir and Ms. Cathy Hughes should also run for the leadership post in the name of diversity, would fall into the same category as that of Mr. Ford and Mr. Mahipaul. What role morality plays in politics is difficult to determine. Nevertheless, it is assumed that the educated and well informed would be swayed by claims of morality.
I have not done an opinion poll but have analyzed anecdotal evidence, newspapers, and social media comments, as well as focused interviews, and conclude that Mr. Norton will be reelected PNCR party leader. If Mr. Norton could have knocked out the most powerful man Mr. Joseph Harmon in the PNCR led coalition government, it stands to logic that he would prevail over less credentialed candidates.
Yes! Mr. Aubrey Norton is projected to return as PNCR Leader.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tara Singh
