Re-elected Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform, Aubrey Norton, while not being opposed to a consensus candidate to lead an opposition coalition into the next general elections, has made it clear any consensus candidate will have to likely come from his party, the PNC Reform.

“Well, the consensus candidate is a loose concept. But let’s assume they are talking about a candidate that all agree to, I have no problem, looking at a consensus candidate. But a consensus candidate in the circumstance, most likely will come from the PNC. Like I said to people, no sense you having like 90% of the shares, and you allow 3% or 10% to determine. Our supporters would have elected me with the clear view that they think I am competent, capable of running an election, barring some unforeseen, I would say that, I have been given the mandate but I am still disposed to discussion because things can change in a minute,” the PNCR Leader told News Source.

Norton was re-elected unopposed to the position of PNC Reform Leader at the party’s weekend’ congress, after all of the other nominees withdrew from that leadership race.

At the congress, party delegates passed a Motion for the Leader of the PNC to be the party’s Presidential Candidate for the next elections. However, the Motion allows for the Leader to decide on another person to take up the Presidential Candidate post, if he so chooses.

Looking ahead at a Coalition for the next elections, Mr. Norton said he intends to meet with the Alliance for Change and the other Coalition partners soon.

“The PNCR is strong, it has the capacity to go on but our preference is for coalition, and once we can work it out, we can go as a coalition. But as a political party that is practical, you have to prepare on two fronts, if you have to go it alone or three fronts, if you are going with the APNU alone or if you are going with the APNU+AFC. All three options, we will keep open,” Norton said. 

At the end of 2022, the AFC opted not to renew the Cummingsburg Accord, which was the agreement that cemented the APNU+AFC Coalition ahead of the 2015 national elections, which they won.

Norton said with both the PNC, which is the largest party in the APNU, and the AFC completing their internal elections, the door remains open for them re-engage on the coalition.

In the interim, Mr. Norton said the PNCR will intensify its work on the ground, mobilizing young people, while actively tackling corruption in government.

At the opening of the PNCR Congress over the weekend, Mr. Norton told delegates that the 69 year old party must seek to obtain and maintain the trust of the Guyanese people ahead of next year’s elections.

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