Ferguson confirms moves afoot to remove Norton as ‘leader’

In a leaked recording, member of the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition, Annette Ferguson, confirmed that moves are afoot to remove the increasingly embattled leader of the PNCR and Parliamentary Opposition, Aubrey Norton.

On recording, which has already been widely circulated on social media, Ferguson said, "Let me tell you something, I am PNC. I am APNU. I will remain just there because I know Norton will not be the leader all the time...Norton not gonna be the leader, so we got to look forward...we have to get a new leader before Congress, before the Elections.”

Ferguson was speaking to a businessman from Plaisance, Region 4, at the time the recording was made.

This year alone Norton has been made to respond to a blank cheque scandal.

PNCR treasurer, Fiaaz Mursaline, had made damning revelations about being made to sign blank cheques must be looked into. He had said, “I am the treasurer and I was elected but all I was used for is to sign cheques and that was merely my duties there with Norton’s leadership… from the time I took office as the elected treasurer of this great party, I was signing blank cheques with no supporting documents. I am always called to sign cheques and whenever I share an opinion of dislike towards this, I am met with hostility. In the month of November it got worst…in that month I signed about 20 blank cheques…I do not know what are the amounts of money written on any of those cheques and I don’t know for what reasons the money, if any were spent on…I requested of the Leader for us to do a financial audit of the finances of Congress Place for our own benefit and for us to ensure proper accountability and transparency. I even suggested that because Cde. Volda Lawrence has the skills in that area we use her to be our guidance. The intention was solely to do what is right for our party and to build trust among our membership. The Leader told me that is a conflict of interest and that he will take care of it. To date nothing has been done.” Further, citing “weak and ineffective” leadership, United States Chapter PNCR member, Egland Gomes, has threatened that an investigation into allegations of financial impropriety must be done, or “recorded information” about PNCR leader, Aubrey Norton, might be put into play. Gomes, in a broadcast on social media under the title ‘Voices of the Diaspora’, said, “An investigation should be done about these blank cheques, and I want Aubrey Norton to know I have recorded information that he would not want to go into the public domain.” the PNCR member also accused Norton of “prosecuting his own public policy”, creating a “perception of weak and ineffective leadership”, and having abandoned his constituency as soon as he became leader. He said, “Aubrey Norton seems to be prosecuting his own public policy. Aubrey Norton is accountable to a party and the CEC of the party. And I hope that the CE now would stand up, do its job and hold the party leader accountable, because he is not above accountability.”

Also, PNCR members have accused Norton of “prosecuting his own public policy”, creating a “percep- tion of weak and ineffective leadership”, and having abandoned his constituency as soon as he became leader. Mursaline, in commenting on this, said, “Aubrey Norton seems to be prosecuting his own public policy. Aubrey Norton is accountable to a party and the CEC of the party. And I hope that the CE now would stand up, do its job and hold the party leader accountable, because he is not above accountability.”

This is the latest of the PNCR infighting that has spilled into the public domain.