Latest update September 11th, 2026 10:26 AM
Norton vows safeguards to prevent repeat of ‘Charrandas’ betrayal amid crossover of AFC members
PNCR leader and presidential candidate for APNU, Aubrey Norton
Kaieteur News – Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) presidential candidate, Aubrey Norton, has vowed that the party will not allow a repeat of the 2018 political betrayal by then-Alliance For Change (AFC) parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud, that toppled the coalition government via a no-confidence vote.
Speaking at a PNCR press conference on Friday, Norton was asked what measures the APNU will put in place to avoid being vulnerable to political defection, given the recent crossovers of AFC members into the APNU camp.
Persaud’s surprise vote with the then-opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in December 2018 led to the collapse of the APNU+AFC coalition government and the eventual calling of early general elections, though the elections were not held until March 2020.
Norton admitted that while it is impossible to guarantee absolute loyalty, the APNU has done its due diligence and is confident in the integrity of those who have joined its ranks.
“We are clear in our minds that the people we are talking with and about are people who have shown a commitment to coalition,” Norton assured.
Former AFC member Charrandas Persaud
He noted that he carefully studied the Charrandas debacle and that lessons have been learned to ensure that such political sabotage does not recur.
“We are well aware of what happened with Charrandas. Personally, I did my analysis of the situation, and we will take measures to ensure that it doesn’t repeat itself. But you live in a real world. You live in a world in which some people could be bribed. I’m not saying Charrandas was bribed but people could be bribed,” Norton said.
He further noted that the coalition is prioritizing character when selecting candidates and allies. “What we do is try to find persons who we believe are interested in service more than money that is one of the safeguards. But we’re dealing with human beings. I have confidence in those persons that would have come to be involved with the APNU, that they will serve the APNU, and they will not be attracted by filthy lucre,” Norton stated.
Recently, it was announced that Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juretha Fernandes, will be the APNU coalition Prime Ministerial candidate. This cross over was done without the blessing of the AFC. Notably, the AFC has disclosed that it is prepared to move to the polls come September 1, without the APNU. Alongside Fernandes, Sherod Duncan and Deonarine Ramsaroop have also crossed the floor from the AFC to APNU.
After the APNU+AFC coalition government lost the 2020 elections and the PPP-government took over, Persaud was selected for the post of Guyana’s High Commissioner to India. However, his time in New Delhi was short-lived. Back in 2022 he was removed as Guyana’s High Commissioner to India after verbally abusing a female animal rights activist one year earlier. Persaud was in August 2021 recorded on camera verbally abusing the woman. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said that the matter was closed as the allegations had not been substantiated.
In a video Persaud was clearly heard speaking in very coarse language to a woman saying: “I don’t need a dog in my yard alright. You want the dog, take it and put it between your legs…you probably want the dog to F#@% you…that’s what you want. I don’t care… I don’t care who you are. F#@% you!” President Irfaan Ali later said Persaud had agreed to return to Guyana after he had spoken with him. “Notwithstanding all of this, Mr. Charrandass has agreed with me that in keeping with the best interest of Guyana, and the image of Guyana, that he would return home from his posting in India,” President Ali had said.
Further, last November Persaud disclosed that he was handed a $50 million road contract by the government, but said he was not happy with the way the administration is handling the infrastructure sector. Persaud revealed that he was awarded a contract to rehabilitate a section of road in Cummings Lodge, Georgetown. When asked about his views on the PPP’s management of the country, Persaud said, “generally, I have some things that are contentious, if you want to call them, things that are happening around here with the PPP that I’m not happy…the issue of contracts.”
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