PNCR’s hard work must be respected in any coalition- party leader

Last Updated on Sunday, 30 March 2025, 17:02 by Writer

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton on Saturday said his party believes a coalition is better but would not allow itself to be disrespected and used.

“We are committed towards working to a coalition but ‘we ain’t guh leh nobadee mek deh eyes pass we’ (we will allow nobody to disrespect us). We are well aware that we are better together. We are also well aware that we carry the burden of the work,” he told the PNCR’s General Council, a key decision-making body of that party.

Mr Norton remarked that while leadership is an important ingredient, “if the people on the ground aren’t doing anything, leadership in trouble.”

Mr Norton’s position came as the PNCR and the Alliance For Change (AFC) were locked in negotiations on whether to contest the 2025 general elections as a coalition and who should be the presidential candidate.

AFC sources familiar with the talks said they were on the brink of collapse and last-ditch efforts were on Sunday underway to see if the two political parties could reach an accommodation. The AFC has so far rejected the PNCR’s proposal for 30 percent of the seats and the prime ministerial position.

The sources said the AFC would on Sunday continue to drive their demand for the presidential candidate plus 55 percent of the seats in the National Assembly because its proposed candidates — AFC Leader Nigel Hughes and Dr Terrence Campbell — are better options than the PNCR Leader.

On Saturday, the PNCR Leader appeared to dig his heels in, saying that, “this party will not allow anybody to ride on your backs.” “We are prepared to engage and be reasonable. We are not prepared to bend over backwards. We’ve seen the dangers of bending over backwards,” he said. It was then AFC member, Charrandass Persaud that had voted with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in favour of a no-confidence motion against the PNCR-led coalition administration.

Financiers are reportedly unenthusiastic about funding the campaign if there is not a viable line-up from the presidential candidate downwards.

AFC negotiators include Jamaican political strategist Alston Stuart, General Secretary and co-founder Raphael Trotman, and AFC co-founder and former Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, while the PNCR-led A Partnership for National Unity’s negotiators are Ambassador David Hales, PNCR public relations functionary Sherwood Lowe and PNCR executive member Ganesh Mahipaul.

During the early days of his leadership, Mr Hughes had repeatedly seen the need to determine the presidential candidacy through scientific polls. At least three polls have been conducted showing that Mr Norton is lagging behind and the coalition was expected to be defeated at the upcoming polls.

For his part, the PNCR Leader has thrown cold water on the polls. The PNCR’s Congress last year decided that he would be his party’s presidential candidate and only he alone would decide if that would change.