Group of PNC Central Executive members not happy with statement critical of Granger

The Central Executive Committee is the highest decision-making body within the People’s National Congress Reform. While Mr. Granger serves as the Leader of the party, the Chairman of the party is the Chairman of the Central Executive Committee.

Group of PNC Central Executive members not happy with statement critical of Granger

As a rift continues in the People’s National Congress Reform over Party Leader David Granger’s handling of party matters, a group of five of the fifteen current members of the Central Executive Committee has emerged to lash out at the other members who recently publicly criticized Mr. Granger in a statement.

“We denounce, most emphatically, the personal attacks against our constitutionally-elected Party Leader, Mr. David Granger, by a minority of persons who did not have the courage to affix their names to the statement but who claimed, cowardly, to write on behalf of the entire CEC”, the letter signed by Jennifer Ferreira-Dougal, Shurwayne Holder, Ganesh Mahipaul, Ernest Elliott & Annette Ferguson stated.

The PNCR members said they are dismayed by the publication of the “unauthorized and unsigned” statement which criticized Granger for making party decisions on his own and ignoring decisions of the Central Executive Committee.

The Central Executive Committee is the highest decision-making body within the People’s National Congress Reform. While Mr. Granger serves as the Leader of the party, the Chairman of the party is the Chairman of the Central Executive Committee.

The current Chairman is longtime party member Volda Lawrence. In a recent statement to Stabroek News, Ms. Lawrence backed the statement from the Central Executive Committee that openly criticized the party leader over his actions.

“The CEC is the decision-making body between the General Council and Congress hence it has the power to call meetings and make statements. The statement issued is legitimate and correct. The matter was discussed at our last CEC where both the Leader and General Secretary were present and they like all members present did not object to the CEC Decision. I therefore endorse the statement by the CEC”, Lawrence said as Chairman of the Central Executive Committee.

Ms. Lawrence also serves as the current Chairman of the party’s powerful Georgetown District.

The five CEC members who issued their own letter after the statement was issued said they do not endorse the statement or any public disclosure of discussions of internal party matters in the public.

Mr. Granger and the party’s General Secretary Amna Ally have been accused of going “rogue” and making major decisions about the party without proper consultation.

Executive and other members have become increasingly agitated over what they consider a “one-man” show within the party and they now want to bring that to an end as they press for the party to hold its overdue congress this year.

Following the party’s ouster from the Government as part of the APNU+AFC Coalition, Granger was heavily criticized over his handling of matters related to the elections and their aftermath.

He came under criticism for his selection of Members of Parliament without full consultation. It is the first time in the party’s history that its Leader and Chairman are not represented in the National Assembly.

While Mr. Granger has been addressing a number of national issues in his weekly television programme, “The Public Interest”, he has remained relatively silent publicly on the wrangling inside his party over his own leadership.

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