SEE FULL STATEMENT: Today it is my duty and honor to address the members of the People’s National Congress Reform, and indeed all the People of Guyana, on a matter of importance to the Party.
On Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, as Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform, I felt compelled to address an article published in the Guyana Chronicle titled, “Norton not fit to be Leader.” The article quoted Comrade Amna Ally, a party member of over 50 years and a former General Secretary of the Party, stating that the Party Leader, Comrade Aubrey C. Norton, is unfit to be Leader. Additionally, when questioned about the party’s readiness to contest the upcoming elections given perceived present financing, Ally expressed indifference, stating that she would not support the party as long as Norton remained as Leader. She said, “I don’t know, and I don’t care, because I am not going to lift a finger under Norton’s leadership. When he is changed as leader, well, then I will look and see what contribution, if any, I can make. But as of now, I want nothing to do with Norton and his leadership.”
I found Comrade Ally’s statements to be very disconcerting for several reasons:
Firstly, Comrade Ally’s remarks imply a refusal to accept the decisions of the party membership. As a long-standing member of the Party, Comrade Ally is signaling to members that it is okay not to accept the results of our elections should they lose. For any party to be viable, it’s essential that all are prepared to respect the decisions made by the majority, even should they lose. By openly declaring her unwillingness to support the party under Comrade Norton’s leadership, Comrade Ally sets a dangerous precedent that suggests losing candidates can simply opt out rather than engage constructively in internal discussions and decision-making processes. Comrade Ally’s attitude suggests that it’s acceptable for members to withdraw from the Party if their preferred candidate does not win. This will foster a culture of disunity and apathy towards the party’s effort to win the 2025 elections.
In any healthy political organization, members remain committed to the party’s principles and objectives regardless of individual disagreements or election outcomes. By openly declaring her unwillingness to support the party under Comrade Norton’s leadership, Comrade Ally sends a troubling message that personal grievances take precedence over collective interests, further eroding party cohesion and effectiveness. I find this unacceptable.
Anyone who declares intention not to accept the results of elections is involved in factionalism. The Founder Leader, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, spoke about this. Factionalism is a poison that threatens to erode the very foundation of our party. It divides us when we should be united, weakens us when we should be strong, and leads us to defeat when we should be victorious. We cannot afford to succumb to the temptation of narrow interests over the greater good. Personal interest and ambition cannot take precedence over the interest and well-being of the Party. Our future depends on our ability to rise above petty divisions and work together towards a common purpose.
It will be recalled that when Comrade Ally’s preferred candidate, Joe Harmon, lost to Party Leader Aubrey C. Norton, she withdrew from the party. Furthermore, on May 25, 2023, the Facebook site Guyana Daily News made a post stating, “Former PNC General Secretary and Stalwart Amna Ally has reportedly left the Party and is campaigning for the city Georgetown as an independent candidate.” The post went on to say that Comrade Ally was seen distributing flyers with the name Independent Citizens for Progress to residents of Georgetown. This is a Party launched by Franklin “Bobby” Vieira to contest the Local Government Elections. As far as I know, Comrade Ally has never denied what was reported by Guyana Daily News.
Moreover, there have been recent allegations by others that Comrade Ally stated that she prefers the PPP to an Aubrey Norton-led coalition, and that she would do all in her power to ensure Party Leader Aubrey Norton is never President. Comrade Ally has never denied these allegations. These are serious allegations.
When I questioned Ally’s moral authority to pronounce on Party Leader Aubrey C. Norton’s fitness to lead the Party, I was guided by several factors:
Comrade Ally withdrew from the Party after her preferred candidate, Joe Harmon, lost to Party Leader Aubrey C. Norton.
Comrade Ally has never denied reports that she campaigned for the Independent Citizens for Progress party, against APNU, the coalition of which the PNCR is a part.
Comrade Ally has never denied that she stated that she prefers the PPP to an Aubrey C. Norton-led PNCR.
Comrade Ally has never denied allegations that she vowed to do all in her power to see the PNCR never win once Party Leader Aubrey C. Norton is the presidential candidate.
Comrade Ally did not refute the Guyana Chronicle report that she said she would never lift a finger to help the PNCR once Aubrey C. Norton is Leader.
In 1974, in the Declaration of Sophia, the Founder Leader, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham in describing the Party Member stated that “Each member must be grounded in the ideology and program of the Party. He must be not merely a member, but an active member of a co-operative. He must engage himself prominently and unapologetically in community activities and self-help projects. He must educate others as he has been educated. He must take part in all relevant Party exercises and programs. He must inform and be informed by the people among whom he lives and with whom he works. He must make the sacrifices he calls upon others to make, and more. He must display ingenuity and initiative. His primary loyalty must be to the Party wherever he is or finds himself.”
Currently, unless Comrade Ally issues urgent clarification or makes profound denials, she fails to meet the standards set out by the Founder Leader. She has to affirm that her primary loyalty is to the People’s National Congress Reform. Until she issues this clarification, she has no moral authority to say who is fit to be the Leader of our great Party.
Some people have responded to my criticism of Amna Ally as racist. Firstly, I cannot be racist against Amna Ally, an Indian woman. The person who birthed me is an Indian woman. I grew up in a home with my Indian grandmother. I am married to an Amerindian woman. I have mixed children. How could I be racist? I am the quintessential man from the Land of Six Peoples. However, I wish to caution all those who unnecessarily and maliciously introduce race into this debate to be careful. In our society, race is not something you throw about loosely at your whims and fancies. It is irresponsible and anti-patriotic.
Look, Comrade Ally served in our Party for over 50 years. She was General Secretary, and in her younger days, National Secretary of the YSM. That is to say, she had positions of responsibility where she issued directions to, and even reprimanded, party members for various reasons. She was highly respected and even feared by some. At no time, when she had cause to castigate party members, most of whom are African Guyanese, was race ever an issue. Africo Selman, a former PNCR MP, cited Comrade Ally’s regular verbal abuse as the reason why she left the party, but at no time did Ms. Selman mention race as an issue. Suddenly, now that Comrade Ally’s words and activities are being questioned, some are introducing race to malign and undermine the Party. This is anti-party.
I must ask, what is the agenda of the people who introduce race into this issue? I understand the agenda of the PPP, but what is the agenda of people who claim to be members or supporters of the PNCR? If anyone, like me, a mixed Guyanese, Daniel Seeram, an Indian Guyanese, Roysdale Forde, an African Guyanese, or Mervin Williams, an Indigenous Guyanese, had said the things Comrade Ally said or did the things she did, we would have been scrutinized. We would have had to issue clarification. In fact, if some had said or done what Comrade Ally said and did while Comrade Ally was General Secretary, she would have let them have it.
Comrades, it is the obligation of Party members to scrutinize any and all, because the interest, future, and well-being of the Party could be at stake. Case in point: if when we received information about what Charandass Persaud was up to, we had scrutinized him, we would have been in Government today. The fact is all party members are equal. All must be given equal opportunities, and if necessary, all must be subjected to the same level of scrutiny. No exceptions.
Comrades, I look forward to a fruitful and productive Congress. I look forward to robust debate. I ask you all to embrace the outcome of our democratic process. We have an election to win in 2025.
Shurwayne Holder, MP
Chairman
Peoples National Congress Reform
