Party Leader, Aubrey Norton has admitted that there are a few within his camp who wish to see him removed from the post, confirming rumours since 2021 that the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has capitulated to factionalism. Norton’s comment comes on the heels of a recent motion tabled by a US-based chapter calling for his removal from the post, citing his alleged inability to unite the party and a senior functionary’s allegations of racism within the PNCR’s topmost circles.
Suspicions about the party being fragmented intensified following Norton’s landslide victory at the party’s last biennial congress in December 2021. His predecessor, Joseph Harmon, who inherited the post of Opposition Leader from former President, David Granger, suffered an upsetting defeat and came under intense pressure from the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) to relinquish that post to Norton. After weeks of manoeuvrings, the resilient Harmon eventually resigned as Member of Parliament (MP), giving way to Norton, his “righthand” man, to become the Opposition’s lead legislator.
The no-confidence motion against Norton has apparently signalled the return of an oppositional force within the party. However, Norton appears unbothered by the move, noting that the motion was not tabled properly. He told a press conference this morning that he spoke with the Vice-Chairman of the Florida group, who informed him that no decision was taken to submit the motion.
“So, to me, it does appear that this is a public relations stunt,” Norton said, explaining that the party’s constitution is “clear” regarding how no-confidence motions are tabled. He explained that a party leader is elected for two years, and anyone who wishes to have the functionary removed must activate the provision in the party’s constitution by calling for a “Special Congress”, but only after securing support from two-thirds of the party groups.
Norton said that he does not mind a challenge, but noted that it must be done within the confines of the PNCR’s rulebook.
“[Those behind] the motion are linked, for want of a better word, to certain sections of the party, and they have a right to do that, but if it is to occur, it should occur within the party’s rules. The party rule says that for a group to meet, it must have a quorum. A quorum is seven members, and as far as I know, no seven members of that group met and passed any motion whatsoever,” he emphasised.
He added, “The other thing is that time has to be given to people to heal. We’ve had a congress, the present leader won overwhelmingly. I have attempted to engage persons who even didn’t support me as party leader, and I will continue to work with our party to build it.
