Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Aubrey Norton says that the current dissatisfaction of his advisor Dr Richard Van West-Charles stems from him not being approved as the lead on future engagements between the government and opposition.
Last week, reports of Van West-Charles’s intention to withdraw his services as an advisor to Norton, who is also Leader of the Opposition, made their way into the press and since then there had been silence from the PNCR. Both Norton and Van West-Charles contested for the leadership of the PNCR back in December last year with the former winning by a landslide.
“All I would say to the press at this stage about Mr Van West-Charles’ comments, and this is before I discuss it with the Central Executive, but Mr Van West-Charles has been pushing for me to engage the People’s Progressive Party through him and I made it clear to him that I cannot engage the People’s Progressive Party without a decision of the Central Executive.
“…I have on my phone, at least two messages from him that could verify that that is the direction he was going and Mr Van West-Charles is entitled to his personal position,” Norton said.
In his first address as leader, Norton had named Van West-Charles and former PNCR Chair Volda Lawrence as his advisors going forward. Lawrence has since been elevated to a member of the National Assembly.
At his weekly press conference yesterday, Norton was asked about whether there was any animosity between himself and Van West-Charles to which he replied in the negative. He added that the letter sent by Van West-Charles, to the PNCR’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) would be discussed when the Committee met last evening.
“Suffice it to say that as far as I know, there is really no problem [between myself and Mr Van West-Charles]. But I reject Mr Van West-Charles’s attempt to use me as a scapegoat to achieve his personal and other ends. But I will deal with that at the level of the Central Executive and then we make an official announcement,” Norton told reporters yesterday.
In his letter, Van West-Charles complained of not having access to Norton or being apprised of decisions of the Party until they are reported in the press. He added that the PNCR’s leader was also bypassing the CEC when making decisions.
Norton took umbrage at the allegation of bypassing the CEC and said “…the [PNCR] constitution provides for the Central Executive to meet at least once a month. We met in January I think twice or thrice. We met in February at least twice. We met in March once I recall or twice because in the latter part of March I was out of the country. This month we had a bit busy schedule and we meet …this evening. So all the claims I think are ridiculous.”
Up to press time, the CEC had not issued a statement about its decision on the matters raised by Van West-Charles. Calls to both Norton and Van West-Charles were to no avail.
