The fallout from APNU’s September 2025 election defeat continues, with former Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine laying blame on poor grassroots strategy and leadership missteps.
The PNCR-led coalition, under Aubrey Norton, secured only 12 parliamentary seats, a sharp fall from its historic standing as Guyana’s main opposition.
“I believe there is no APNU. The PNC is the PNC. It’s delusional to think you can rebrand a coalition without grassroots work and expect victory,” Narine said in a recent interview.
He described the election results as predictable, citing the coalition’s failure to connect with ordinary citizens.
Narine criticized APNU’s leadership for not effectively deploying members in diverse communities, including Indian Guyanese areas where he felt he could have made an impact.
“You can’t have people like myself and don’t utilise us. The dynamics of this country are evolving every day. People will gravitate to leadership, not race,” he argued.
The former mayor also questioned the coalition’s leadership choices. While expressing respect for Norton, he said surrounding himself with “yes-people” left the leader vulnerable to poor advice.
Narine added that APNU should have fielded a younger presidential candidate to compete with President Dr Irfaan Ali and WIN’s Azruddin Mohamed.
“If we had put a younger individual and molded that person, we would have been in a different place…,” he asserted.
For Narine, authentic leadership is the missing ingredient. He dismissed money-driven campaigns, insisting that charisma, vision, and moral authority determine political success.
Drawing on historical examples, he noted that leaders such as Gandhi and Mandela inspired followers not with wealth but with conviction.
Despite sharp criticism, Narine has pledged to remain in the PNCR, but warned the coalition must face reality and rebuild credibility if it hopes to regain relevance.
