Georgetown – September 17, 2025 – The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is facing one of its most turbulent moments in recent years, with the resignations of Chairman Shurwayne Holder, long-serving member Mervyn Williams, and party stalwart Wayne Maison raising questions about stability inside the opposition party. But the PNCR is pushing back hard against any suggestion of collapse, declaring it will weather the storm and remain the country’s strongest counter to the ruling PPP/C.
In a statement on Sunday, PNCR General Secretary Sherwin Benjamin called the departures “unfortunate” but insisted they do not shake the party’s foundation. “The PNCR remains a resilient and united party, steadfast in its commitment to its principles and the nation, even in this challenging period,” the statement read. Benjamin added that over its 70-year history, members have come and gone, yet the party has always endured.
Holder’s resignation from both his post and the Central Executive Committee, alongside Williams’ dramatic on-air announcement during his programme Nation Watch that he was quitting entirely, cast a spotlight on internal strains.
Williams, who had been with the party for more than four decades, once served twice as a parliamentarian and as Shadow Agriculture Minister. His sudden departure stunned supporters and underscored simmering tensions within the PNCR. Maison’s resignation, while more dramatic, has added to the perception of a wave of discontent within the ranks.
Founded in 1957 by Forbes Burnham, the PNCR has been one half of Guyana’s two-party dominance for decades. It governed for long stretches during the post-independence era and returned to office most recently through the APNU+AFC coalition (2015–2020) before losing to the PPP/C under President Irfaan Ali in 2020.
Since then, the PNCR has struggled to balance its role as the main opposition force with calls for internal reform. Analysts have pointed to factionalism, questions over leadership direction, and the fallout from the 2020 elections as key pressures. Yet the PNCR still commands strong grassroots loyalty, particularly in its traditional strongholds of Regions Four, Seven, and Ten.
In its statement, the party framed itself as the only credible challenger to the PPP/C, vowing to “rescue and rebuild the nation” despite the current turbulence. “This party has seen challenges before, but we remain the only political force capable of standing firm against the PPP/C,” Benjamin declared. The PNCR has not yet indicated how it will fill the vacant Chairman post, but officials say its leadership remains focused on rebuilding trust and strengthening its organizational machinery.
Whether these resignations mark the beginning of deeper fractures or simply another chapter in the party’s long, storm-tested history remains to be seen. What is clear is that the PNCR is determined to project strength even as questions swirl about its internal cohesion.
