Trouble in PNCR camp… Aubrey Norton complains of “abuse”

- says it can no longer be kept internal

By Abena Rockcliffe

July 27, 2014, By KNews, Filed Under News, Source - Kaieteur News

While the incumbent leader, David Granger, was preaching unity inside Congress Place during Friday’s opening of the PNCR’s 18th biennial congress, his competition, Aubrey Norton, was outside complaining of abuse.

PNCR leadership candidate, Aubrey Norton

 

An obviously peeved Norton told Kaieteur News that Granger’s driver was verbally abusive to a long-standing party member merely because the young man chose to support Norton.

According to Norton, just before the congress started, Granger’s driver called the young man identified as Wayne Mason, “a dog.”

Further, Norton said, Mason was walking away because “I told him earlier that people may try to irritate him but Granger’s driver didn’t stop there.”

Carl Greenidge’s supporters had in the past suffered similar levels of abuse during the last congress, Norton said. However, Norton made it absolutely clear that it would not be tolerated by him.

He said that the last time it was kept internally. “I don’t think we must keep it internally any longer. We must cut out the abuse and deal with party members as party members. At the end of the day its one party…I choose to nip it in the bud now so that it would not extend.

He said that “young Wayne Mason” walked away to avert a problem but Granger’s driver persisted and walked behind his fellow party member trying to provoke a reaction.

Norton said that a formal report was made to the party’s General Secretary, Oscar Clarke, because it is not acceptable for a party member to abuse another.

“If we are going to have a proper Congress, then there must be a certain amount of decency and respect for what is happening.”

The former Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has been a member of PNCR since 1972, said that if the matter is not dealt with in a fair and transparent manner, he will have cause to revise his relationship with the party.

The former Member of Parliament told the media that he was working along with the General Secretary to resolve major issues relating to membership. According to him, a number of people who are entitled to membership have been disenfranchised.

It was pointed out that the PNCR members who hail from Linden are suffering the worst, as their membership has apparently been denied.
As a result, Lindeners picketed the congress. Norton told Kaieteur News that he was surprised when he saw the demonstration.  He said if his advice was sought, he would have told them not to do that on the first day of congress