Former Opposition MP Jermaine Figueira has broken his silence on the real reasons behind his dramatic resignation from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), accusing the party of losing its moral compass, drifting into ethnic politics, and failing the country in a time of national crisis.
Figueira, who resigned last Saturday from the National Assembly and all party roles, said he was driven by principle, not politics.
“This was not an easy decision — but it was the only honest one,” he said. “I could not stay silent and lend legitimacy to what the PNCR has become.”
At the heart of Figueira’s resignation is what he described as the party’s “troubling tolerance for rising ethnic antagonism”. Once a platform for inclusive nationalism, the PNCR, he argued, now flirts with divisive rhetoric.
“What we’re seeing is a dangerous retreat from national unity,” he warned. “It’s a betrayal of the very ideals that built this party.”
Figueira also painted a grim picture of internal dysfunction, saying the PNCR’s culture has deteriorated into “sycophancy and vindictiveness”, with loyal members pushed aside in favour of political insiders.
He cited the “arbitrary exclusion” of party faithful — including the late Amna Ally, even after her death — as evidence of what he called a collapse in internal honour and discipline.
“This is no longer a party rooted in ethical stewardship — it’s one defined by petty politics and personal agendas.”
The former MP didn’t mince words about the state of leadership in the party, accusing it of becoming “introspective and reactive” instead of offering bold, forward-thinking solutions for Guyana.
“The PNCR used to be a vanguard for transformative ideas,” he said. “Today, it suffers from political pettiness and intellectual inertia.”
Perhaps the sharpest rebuke came over the PNCR’s decision to walk out of Parliament during a debate on Venezuela’s aggressive territorial claims. Figueira labelled the move “a betrayal” of national duty at a time when unity was essential.
“To walk out when our sovereignty was on the line was shameful,” he said. “Country must come before party — always.”
Figueira ended his statement with a note of resolve, saying he would continue serving the people of Linden, Region Ten, and the wider nation — just not under a banner he no longer believes in.
“This is about truth, justice, and the future of our country. I leave with my integrity intact, and with hope that Guyana can rise above this moment.”
His resignation marks a serious indictment of the PNCR’s current direction and sends a clear message about the growing unease within its ranks.
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