The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has barred the North American Region (NAR), a recently incorporated entity, from managing party groups in the United States. The move comes a month away from the party’s internal election and a year before it contests at the national poll.
Contrary to what some may believe, the party leader, Aubrey Norton said that he did not unilaterally disband the body.
Norton, at a press conference on Friday, said that the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) met and made the decision, which was endorsed by the General Council (GC).
Minutes after the press conference, a statement was issued by the party’s General Secretary, Dawn Hastings-Williams, explaining the reasons for the expulsion and the way forward.
The statement said that the NAR Inc. failed to adhere to the decisions of both the CEC and the GC and therefore, “it no longer represents the interests or positions of the Party and is not permitted to operate as a PNCR Region in the USA”.
Secondly, following a directive from the CEC, the party decided to engage with the groups in the USA directly and establish a Steering Committee. This committee is tasked with managing the affairs of the PNCR and preparing the Region for an upcoming Party conference in the USA.
Thirdly, the CEC has decided that NAR must not use the name of the Party in any future endeavors.
Fourthly, at the meeting to establish the Steering Committee, Party leadership informed the groups that NAR was no longer the Party’s representative in the USA. As such, the group elections they held were declared null and void. The leadership changes they made without Party sanction were also invalid, and the previously elected leadership of PNCR groups in the USA is reinstated.
The unceremonious booting also comes a little over a year after Norton was slapped with a no-confidence motion filed by the PNCR’s Florida Chapter.
The motion was moved by John C Yates, the Chairman of the Florida Chapter and was seconded by Lawrence London.
The motion was filed on several grounds including Norton’s alleged failure to augment relationships between the business community and the party; the resignations of the General Secretary, Geeta Edmond and the Party Treasurer, Faaiz Mursalin; and his reported inability to unite the party. The Chapter also noted that the party’s image has been “severely tarnished” under Norton’s stewardship, leading to supporters losing interest and withholding support.
But Norton remain unfazed, labelling the motion as a “public relations stunt”.
“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.