In the wake of the People’s National Congress Reform’s (PNCR) most devastating electoral performance, party leader Aubrey Norton has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to rebuild and revitalize the political organization. The September 1, 2025 general and regional elections saw the PNCR-led coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), secure merely 12 parliamentary seats—a stark contrast to the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic’s 36 seats and newcomer We Invest in Nationhood’s 16 seats.
Addressing supporters on the party’s weekly program ‘Nation Watch,’ Norton acknowledged the severity of the defeat, stating that the party cannot ‘bury your head in the sand’ following such a significant electoral setback. The veteran politician, who has been with the PNC since the 1970s, identified several factors contributing to the poor showing, including the absence of a coalition with the Alliance For Change, well-financed opposition campaigns, alleged electoral irregularities, and a voters list containing names of emigrants, migrants, and deceased persons.
Norton’s revitalization plan centers on extensive grassroots engagement beginning in the first quarter of 2026. The initiative will focus on understanding Guyanese citizens’ desires, improving parliamentary representation, and deploying social workers to assist and guide youth populations. ‘We will engage the youth because I do believe that urgent work needs to be done with the youth,’ Norton emphasized, criticizing the current government for displacing young people’s priorities and hindering their development as future leaders.
The PNCR leader also pledged to address internal party disunity, which he acknowledged had ‘accumulated’ over time. His strategy includes creating a corps of educated and trained young party members who can eventually assume leadership roles. Norton stressed that youth must be educated that politics is about service rather than mere position-seeking, and that commitment should extend beyond electoral victories.
Looking forward, Norton expressed hope that within twelve months, national discourse could shift toward Guyana’s comprehensive development, proper resource allocation, addressing ethnic problems connected to social, economic and political challenges, and establishing a properly managed Natural Resources Fund that saves for future generations.