Norton promises to fix race relations in Guyana but refused to condemn allies’ racists remarks

The People’s National Congress (PNC) has identified “race relations” as one of its national priorities – should it be re-elected into government.

The PNC has made this commitment despite failure of its present leadership to condemn and take action against racist remarks made by its allies.

“…improving race relations depends on establishing mutual respect and shared understandings among the races. We in the PNCR/APNU have identified race relations as one of national priorities,” the party said on its website, where it details a list of other promises to the electorate ahead of elections on September 1.

However, its promise appears hypocritical as the leader of the PNC, Aubrey Norton has refused to previously condemn the racist remarks of its coalition partners.

In March 2023 for example, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) member Tacuma Ogunseye was widely criticised for stating that the PPP used the law enforcement bodies to “execute” Africans and encouraged his ethnic group, especially those who are members of the Joint Services, to be “battle ready” for a “fight.”

While Ogunseye was strongly condemned by a wide cross-section of society over his inflammatory statements, Norton refused to speak up. Norton instead described the utterances from the WPA member as just “poor choice of words” and noted that Ogunseye’s right to free speech must be respected.

The WPA member was later charged with attempting to incite racial ill will and placed on $100,000 bail.

Similarly, in February 2025, WPA member David Hinds during his “Politics 101” programme, hurled a series of insults at Afro-Guyanese, calling them “lick bottoms,” “house slaves,” and “sell outs”, among others.

Again, Norton had refused to condemn the remarks, saying “I have no say or control over what Mr Hinds says.”

The PNC-lead A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has indicated it will partner with the WPA to contest the upcoming elections.