Reeling from a series of desertions and internal divisions, the main opposition PNCR yesterday announced that it has mandated broad consultations to determine a road ahead for the party.

In a statement, the PNCR said yesterday that its Central Executive Committee (CEC) has mandated executive Dr Aubrey Armstrong to undertake wide-ranging consultations in Guyana, the Caribbean, North America and the United Kingdom, with individuals and stakeholders “to determine a consensus on the road ahead” for the PNCR. These consultations were agreed to as a follow-up to the recently held Strategic Leadership Retreat, which Armstrong facilitated, it explained.

Under his terms of reference, Armstrong is free to consult with any party member or supporter, disaffected party members (especially those who are inactive), veterans, stalwarts, trade union groups, youth groups, businesspersons, and non-traditional supporters from across ethnic spectrum, among others.

According to the party, the approach being utilised presents the output from the recent retreat as the basis for encouraging “a frank and open discussion” about the party, its programmes and strategies. It added that Armstrong is expected to present a report of his findings to the CEC before the 16th Biennial Congress in various Caribbean countries, as well as those for the party.

In an interview with Stabroek News in May, Armstrong, rumoured to be considering a run for party leader, explained that several areas were identified for retooling at the retreat. Among them are the way it is financed, its use of technology, its outreach to its membership as well as its outreach to youth and to non–traditional supporters, particularly in the Indo-Guyanese and Amerindian communities.

On the latter point, Armstrong said the PNCR has to rethink how it reaches across ethnic barriers. “We have to look at leadership at all levels,” he said, “and develop ways of ensuring that the leadership is able to reach out beyond the party–in other words a big tent–to talk to other political formations, to talk to the unions and  so on, to bring about some kind of political stability in the country.”