On April 14th 2022, PNCR Leader, Aubrey C. Norton, was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition, and there was jubilation in PNCR circles. Some persons wept. Why? PNCR is one of the two major political parties in Guyana, and it should be natural if its Leader is not the President he will be the Leader of the Opposition. Yet, some members felt so much uncertainty they could not control their emotions when something that should have been routine happened.
In the latter half of 2021 the nation was riveted by an unprecedented leadership campaign in the PNCR. Three worthy candidates, Dr Richard Van West Charles, Joe Harmon, and Aubrey Norton, were traversing the country talking to members about their vision for the Party and country. It was captivating, and voters of all political persuasions were paying attention.
It was predicted that the process could energize the party for the 2025 elections. It could generate interest in the PNCR, galvanize the support base, and allow Guyanese of all persuasions to see a truly democratic process and establish connections, even if subconsciously, with various candidates. The process was expected to bring the Party closer to the citizens, but only if handled correctly. A main requirement for positive impacts for the party was emerging from the process united.
Onto the day before the elections the PNCR appeared on course for major gains. All candidates, Norton, Harmon and Van West Charles, pledged unity, and committed to accept the results and work with the winner. The winner was poised to assume leadership of a unified and energized party which had the full attention of the nation. This was the outlook when Aubrey C. Norton accepted Joe Harmon’s call conceding the elections. Then in the blink of an eye it all changed.
The events that unfolded after the elections did tremendous damage to the PNCR. They threatened to tear the party apart. A PPP subversive operation could not have been a greater threat, by far.
Immediately after the elections forces on the periphery of the party started a vicious campaign. It seems aimed at eviscerating the People’s National Congress Reform. It heaped scorn on officers of the party, denigrated and deprecated the party’s democratic process, disparaged individual members and the membership as a whole, and abased the office of Leader of the Party. It was argued that Norton’s election as PNCR Leader had no bearing on who should be Leader of the Opposition. Even when Nicolette Henry resigned, it was argued there was no automaticity of Norton replacing her. Then when Joe Harmon resigned as Leader of the Opposition, and then from Parliament, forces were talking to PNCR MPs about making someone from their ranks Leader of the Opposition. The forces even approached the AFC, but the entire scheme unraveled when the AFC rejected the idea. However, for a while it appeared as if Norton was in limbo.
When the APNU met for the formal transfer of the chairmanship from David Granger to Aubrey Norton the forces were at work again, but this time they had a presence in the meeting. For over one hour someone argued for a principle of rotation, and since the PNCR had the chairmanship for over 10 years it must now go to a small party. Eventually the parties rejected the proposals, and Aubrey Norton rightly assumed as Chairman of APNU.
It is felt by some analysts that the campaign by the peripheral forces was built around two main planks; an assumed weakness of Aubrey Norton, and perceived unprincipled political ambition by players in the AFC and small parties in the APNU.
Firstly, with respect to Aubrey Norton, it was a case of people believing their own propaganda. For years they peddled that he was brash, rash, hasty and wild. He was not strategic and shrewd. However, his handling of the peripheral forces’ campaign demonstrated his political guile, personal maturity, and self control.
When insulted, he was expected to lash out. He did not. When forced to sit in the APNU meeting for 1½ hours as debate on if he could assume leadership ebbed on, he was expected to erupt and barge out, he did not. He skillfully navigated all obstacles, engaged the AFC like a statesman, related with small parties with respect, and refused to be baited by nasty social media comments by surrogates of the peripheral forces. They were counting on him being the “bull in the china shop.” Instead, he was the crafty fox in the chicken pen.
The move to involve the AFC in the plot to undermine Aubrey Norton, and hence the PNCR, was potentially much more harmful. If the AFC had acquiesced, then that would have not only meant the end of the APNU-AFC coalition, it would have meant the end of coalition politics in Guyana, for the foreseeable future. When one thinks that the only times the PPP did not attain the presidency since 1992 was in 2015, when there was a combined opposition coalition, the full possible impact is recognized. The destruction of coalition politics in Guyana would have been a gift to the PPP. Was this the objective of the peripheral forces?
Now that Aubrey Norton is sworn in as Leader of the Opposition, the major threat has passed, but this is not by chance. The political acumen, discipline, and guile of Norton played a significant role, along with the political maturity and foresight of the leaders in the AFC. Aubrey Norton was faced with the first major test as PNCR Leader, and he emerged smelling like a rose.
He did not allow the apparent uncertainties to paralyze him. He was busy engaging the diplomatic community, pushing PNCR demands for a clean voters list. He visited communities around the country, meeting citizens to discuss issues affecting them. He met youth leaders to plan a way forward. Then at the last General Council of the PNCR, he presented a comprehensive vision for the country.
He has shown he has the mettle needed to command the ship of state. He is level headed, patient, and disciplined. He showed he has ability to be strategic in the most trying situations, and will not allow himself to be baited into mistakes. His political acumen, discipline and guile worked for him, and will also work for Guyana when he is in charge of the ship of state.