Opposition is haemorrhaging members – Nandlall says more persons to soon endorse PPP

Attorney General Anil Nandlall on Monday emphasised that there is an ongoing “haemorrhaging” of members from the opposition People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R), hinting that more members will soon be announcing their departure and endorsement of the the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

“The wounds are gushing, and it is continuing, and I was told even today we will have an announcement from the floor,” he said in the National Assembly.

Nandlall at the commencement of his presentation on the Representation of the People’s Act (amendment) 2025 noted that the announcement of the 2025 general and regional elections “caught them with their pants down and we are seeing a lot of haemorrhaging on that side, a constant haemorrhaging, there may be serious blood shortage before the elections because there is bleeding from that side.”

He was at the time referring to the exodus of PNC/R members to the PPP/C ahead of the elections.

The most recent addition to the PPP/C is Regional Vice Chairman for Region Four and member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Samuel Sandy. Sandy in his endorsement of President Dr Irfaan Ali said “the PPP/C remains the only political movement with the experience, competence, and inclusive vision necessary to unify our diverse society while responsibly managing the opportunities and challenges of our rapidly changing nation.”

He joined Executive Member of the PNC/R and Region Four Chairman Daniel Seeram, who endorsed President Ali for a second term.

Similarly, Attorneys-at-law James Bond who had previously held senior positions within the PNC/R and Selwyn Pieters, who has in the past represented several Opposition persons, also threw their support behind President Ali and publicly endorsed him.

Recently, former PNC/R Central Executive member, Dr Richard Van-West Charles said he believes that President Ali is the leader Guyana needs now. “Over the last four years, we have been able to witness and palpate the performance of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. He has worked assiduously in ensuring that there is increasing participation of our people based on the resources emanating from the petroleum industry and other industries,” he said. Dr Charles is the son-in-law of former president and founder of the PNC, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.

In April, former PNC member Thandi McAllister also threw her support behind the PPP/C. “I joined forces with my brother and friend, Irfaan, because I believe in his vision – a vision which he personally outlined to me,” she explained.

In 2023, former General Secretary of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), the youth arm of the PNCR, Lance Smith and former Georgetown Mayor and longstanding PNC member, Patricia Chase-Green broke ties with the PNC and joined the PPP/C to contest the Local Government Elections.

Aside from the PNC, leaders of other smaller parties – The Citizenship Initiative (TCI) Shaz Ally, The New Movement (TNM) Asha Kissoon, and the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Lenox Shuman – have also joined the PPP/C ahead of the 2025 General and Regional Elections.