By Samuel Gillis
Calls for a boycott of Guyanese-owned businesses in the US, initiated by PNCR activists in response to President Irfaan Ali’s recent visit to New York, have sparked controversy within the party.
At a press conference today, PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton expressed his support for the boycott, aligning it with the party’s objectives.
Despite opposition from some party members, Norton emphasized the perceived necessity of such actions in response to what he described as inadequate treatment from the government.
Norton’s stance contradicts that of PNCR Parliamentarian Jermaine Figueira, who publicly condemned the call for boycott, labeling it as misguided and counterproductive.
However, Norton clarified that Figueira’s views were his own and did not reflect the party’s stance.
He reiterated that the boycott was deemed a useful tool by those who supported it, echoing the sentiment that it could hold the PPP government accountable.
The call for boycott originated from Rickford Burke following the warm reception President Ali received in Brooklyn, where Guyanese residents expressed their willingness to collaborate with him for the benefit of all Guyanese.
The party’s internal discord over the boycott highlights broader tensions within the PNCR regarding its stance on government policies and actions.