Granger denies that Aubrey Norton was ever “sidelined” by party

Jul 12, 2014 News

– says party was able to achieve success

By Latoya Giles

Leader of the Opposition David Granger on Thursday denied that his party, the PNCR has ever sidelined former Parliamentarian Aubrey Norton.
Granger, in an interview with Kaieteur News said that he wasn’t aware of statements made by Aubrey Norton and Dr. Faith Harding about the party not doing a good job. It was reported that Norton felt that he was sidelined, because of his outspokenness.

Opposition Leader David Granger

According to Granger, he is not aware of that. In fact, he said that Norton has maintained his membership card for the party. Granger added that Norton knows very well that the party has a constitution and congress. “If he is willing to participate in any arm or organ of the party he will be allowed, he was never sidelined…he has served in Parliament among other organs of the party and we welcome his participation” Granger told Kaieteur News.
With regards to Dr. Faith Harding, Granger said that since the end of the 2011 election campaign process, he has never seen her. “Not sure if she is still a member of the party, but nobody has ever prevented her from the party” Granger stated.
According to the Opposition Leader, Dr. Harding’s talents would be definitely welcomed in the party.
Further, Granger said, that the fact that Norton was challenging him for the leadership shows the levels of democracy that exists within the PNCR. “People are free to utter their opinions and the PNCR is the most democratic party” Granger stressed.
He explained that he strongly believes that his party has been able to achieve a great level of success within the last two years. Granger described his tenure as “very good” with him having the opportunity for the first time to combine three positions, mainly the Peoples National Congress, A Partnership for National Unity and the Opposition.
He told Kaieteur News that he has witnessed a higher level of coordination and team work which made an impact on the national political landscape. He said that he would in turn continue to bring pressure on the PPP administration.
Recently, it has been reported that Norton was set to contest the leadership of the PNCR. However, the former parliamentarian declined to say whether he would accept the nomination.
It was noted that nomination begins on July 12, 2014.
The PNCR had sidelined Norton from the National Assembly immediately following the 2011 General and Regional Elections and again with the resignation of Richard Allen in April, 2013.
This happened again following the resignation and subsequent death of Deborah Backer in March, 2014.
Norton had made several comments about how the Opposition has behaved. Back in February, Norton had said that parliamentarians needed to do more work. He said that he defined work as going out to the constituencies, meeting with people, understanding their concerns and articulating these at a number of different levels.
Norton, a Member of Parliament during the Seventh and Ninth sittings of Parliament, had emphasized that the Opposition needs to appear like a Government in waiting with clear cut policies on virtually every issue.
“So, when Government speaks the Opposition have an alternative, they can state what elements of the Government approach they endorse and what elements they disagree with,” he had explained to Kaieteur News.
Zeroing in on what the Opposition should be doing with its one-seat majority in Parliament, Norton stressed that parliamentarians should be writing Government Ministers to get answers for challenges affecting residents across Guyana.
Moreover, they should be developing Motions and other means of getting Parliament to take a position on particular issues, he asserted.