A persistent tension within the Afro-Guyanese community affects the dynamics between PNC leader Aubrey Norton and AFC leader Nigel Hughes. Both leaders, who come from different socio-economic backgrounds, compete for the support of Afro-Guyanese voters; however, their path to the presidency faces significant challenges.
Norton’s leadership style has often been characterized by his unapologetic embrace of his working-class roots. However, his decision to avoid aligning with Indo-Guyanese in his party or courting their votes has raised eyebrows. With Afro-Guyanese making up just 29.3% of the population, ignoring the need for broader support may seem like building castles in the air. In a country where over 70% of the population is non-Afro-Guyanese, such a narrow approach is dangerous and potentially self-destructive. Norton’s belief that he can secure a victory without the votes of Indo-Guyanese is a miscalculation that could lead to political isolation.
On the other hand, Hughes comes from an intellectual background and is known for his complex views on Norton’s rise within the Afro-Guyanese community. His father, Clarence Hughes, a former ally of Forbes Burnham, was reportedly ostracized from his inner circle for betraying Forbes Burnham. Clarence Hughes was never welcomed back into the Burnham inner circle or the PNC party again.
Nigel Hughes may have harbored resentment toward Norton, believing that someone from a working-class background should not occupy a leadership position in the Afro-Guyanese community. His conflict with Norton appears deeply rooted in class and legacy, making it challenging for him to accept Norton’s leadership within the community. For Hughes, embracing the idea of a leader who does not come from an intellectual Afro-Guyanese family may be difficult.
However, his challenges extend beyond personal differences. Hughes faces a significant lack of support within his Indo-Guyanese community. The AFC, which was co-founded alongside Ramjattan and Nagamootoo, has a history of conning, lying, and betraying Indo-Guyanese sugar and rice workers while in power. Consequently, Indo-Guyanese voters are unlikely to rally behind Hughes, severely limiting his chances of success as he struggles to secure a solid voter base. Hughes is now attempting to attract voters without a substantial support structure—a much more challenging task, given the lack of a dedicated constituency behind him.
The intellectual Blacks have already aligned themselves with the PPP party, further diminishing Hughes’ chances within the Afro-Guyanese community. His failure to garner meaningful support and his inability to build a solid vote bank cast doubt on his political future, particularly regarding Norton’s challenge to Hughes, which demands answers to three key questions.
- The number of his AFC supporters in the country.
- The AFC vote bank exposes the flaws in Hughes’s strategy. Without these critical elements, Hughes will grapple with an uncertain future.
- Any AFC lifelong voters in his database?
The reality is evident: Afro-Guyanese, comprising only 29.3% of the population, cannot form a government independently. Norton and Hughes need to recognize that political power in Guyana requires more than just a narrow base. A broader coalition, including Indo-Guyanese voters, is vital for any leader aspiring to win the presidency.
The PPP party has acknowledged that it needs Afro-Guyanese, mixed-race individuals, Amerindians, Portuguese, and Sino-Guyanese to secure a majority in Parliament. Both leaders fail to accept this truth and continue their internal conflicts. In that case, they will likely be marginalized in a political landscape that demands unity, inclusiveness, and a focus on national interests rather than personal vendettas.
Guyana needs leadership that rises above petty rivalries, focuses on the nation’s future, and recognizes the importance of building coalitions for a successful government. The time has come for these two leaders to set aside their differences and collaborate for the nation.
It is noteworthy that neither Aubrey Norton nor Nigel Hughes has Indo-Guyanese representatives with them, even though this group is the largest community in Guyana. The Indo-Guyanese members associated with the PNC and AFC remain out of public view.
Undoubtedly, the PPP party is on track to win the 2025 general election with a comfortable majority. However, as expected, the AFC and PNC will likely resort to their usual tactics—shouting rigging allegations against the PPP. Nevertheless, the Guyanese people are not fooled. Everyone knows that the PNC has a long and well-documented history of rigging elections, dating back 50 years to the era of Forbes Burnham and, until recently, during the 2020 general elections.
These unfounded accusations against the PPP are nothing new. The PPP must actively inform voters about these tactics so they can see through the smear campaign. It is also likely that these parties will use these false and outrageous claims as a pretext to delay the swearing-in of the newly elected PPP government simply because they refuse to accept defeat.
Aubrey Norton has issued Nigel Hughes his marching orders. Norton’s actions convey a strong message that the PNC cannot be used as a personal vehicle for narrow, divisive ambitions. Nigel Hughes’ complete failure to oust Aubrey Norton has revealed that he lacks a voter power base in the country. Hughes must start persuading voters, primarily Afro-Guyanese PNC supporters, and explain why the PNC leadership decided to part ways with him.