Jermaine Figueira, who recently resigned from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and his position as Opposition Member of Parliament, has finally revealed the reasons behind his departure.
In a detailed resignation statement on Wednesday, Figueira expressed deep disappointment with the party’s current leadership and internal culture, which he says no longer reflects the values that initially inspired his service.
He accused the PNCR leadership of fostering a climate of sycophancy and vindictiveness, where faithful contributors are routinely sidelined.
“The internal culture of the PNCR has deteriorated from principled deliberation to an insular climate defined by sycophancy, vindictiveness, and the systematic sidelining of faithful contributors,” Figueira said, citing his own experiences and pointing to the unfair treatment of late party stalwarts like Amna Ally.
Figueira also condemned what he described as the party’s tolerance for rising ethnic antagonism, a sharp departure from the PNCR’s foundational commitment to national unity.
“What was once a platform for unifying vision now flirts perilously with sectarian dogma,” he warned.
The former member further criticised the PNCR for its lack of visionary leadership, describing the party as suffering from “intellectual inertia and political pettiness,” unable to adapt to Guyana’s evolving political landscape.
One of the most significant points of contention was the party’s recent walkout from Parliament during a vote affirming Guyana’s territorial sovereignty in the face of renewed Venezuelan claims.
Figueira called this move “a dereliction of parliamentary responsibility” and “a betrayal of the very ethos upon which the party was founded.”
Figueira emphasised that his resignation was a matter of conscience and principle. “I cannot, in good conscience, lend legitimacy to a course of action that veers Guyana away from truth, justice, unity, and the national interest,” he said.
Though stepping away from the PNCR, Figueira reiterated his commitment to the people of Region Ten and Guyana as a whole, expressing hope for a future political climate centred on service, integrity, and unity.
Figueira would have taken an independent position from his party in representing his constituency. In fact, last year, he was stripped of his position as regional Chairman of the party in Region Ten and his shadow portfolio by Leader Aubrey Norton.
