Ruckus erupts at Linden PNCR office
NEWLY appointed party coordinator for the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Sandra Adams, is again at the centre of another alleged debacle involving Party supporters who are none too pleased with her appointment.
Reports reaching the Guyana Chronicle indicated that yesterday a ruckus within Party ranks escalated after Adams was tasked with management of the PNCR’s office inCo-op Crescent, Linden, and was entrusted as the sole key holder to the building.
Sources close to the matter related that displeased Party supporters ripped the newly installed door at the office off its hinges, causing something of a disturbance that caused police officers to be summoned to the scene.
An investigation into the matter is reportedly ongoing.
REASON FOR IRE
Several senior Party members were unavailable for comment up to press time.
Adams has drawn the ire of longstanding PNCR supporters primarily as a result of her appointment as Regional Party Coordinator by the party’s Central Executive last April.
She has since refuted that she was ‘gunning’ for the position ahead of Party stalwart and PNCR Member of Parliament (MP), Vanessa Kissoon, and longstanding member, Sharma Solomon.
However, the fact that Adams was favoured ahead of the Kissoon and Sharma has left many Party supporters significantly disgruntled.
The fact that Adams was favoured, according to some, unfairly so, was solidified when Kissoon was suspended last June by the Central Executive Committee, following a verbal confrontation between herself and PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke – which later led to disciplinary action being taken against her.
Additionally, yesterday’s incident follows what was a significant expression of supporters’ annoyance last October, when Party leader, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, was chased from the McKenzie High School, where he was holding a meeting with Party stakeholders.
SIDELINING LINDENERS
What has been described in the last few days as “Granger’s sidelining of Lindeners” was also the bone of contention during the PNCR’s 18th Biennial Congress last year.
During the vote for key leadership positions, the gates of Congress Place, the Sophia headquarters of the PNCR, were closed to many party members – several of whom were from Region 10 – even as the voting for new leaders was underway. The locked out members raised concerns over what they dubbed a “rigged” process to ensure that Granger remains in power.
The ensuing controversy saw Mr. Aubrey Norton, a contender for the PNCR leadership, dropping out of the elections after citing serious problems with the election process.As such, Granger was returned as party leader, unopposed.
Linden, for decades now, has been a stronghold of the PNCR.
Meanwhile, several observers within the PNCR commented to this newspaper that it is evident that the divide in the PNCR continues to widen – a dangerous state of affairs at a time when the country is preparing to head to early general and regional elections, on a date expected to be announced soon by President Ramotar.
extracted from the Guyana Chronicle