David Granger, Basil Williams, George Norton re-elected to leadership

PNCR Congress

The delegates of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) have re-elected embattled Public Health Minister Dr George Norton as one of the two vice chairpersons of the party.
Dr Norton secured the position when the party delegates voted for its leadership in the Central Executive Committee on Sunday.
The minister has in recent days been taking flack for government over a deal it inked with Larry Singh’s Linden Holding Inc to pay $12.5 million monthly for a Sussex Street property to store government’s drugs and medical supplies.
Dr Norton secured 227 votes. Colleague Minister, Volda Lawrence, was also re-elected as the PNCR’s other vice chairperson.
Attorney James Bond, who had campaigned for the position on the platform of getting youths in the leadership of the party managed to

secure 148 votes.
Clement Corlette, another of the challengers for the vice chairman position only managed to muster eight votes.

Party Leader Brigadier David Granger was returned unopposed as was Party Chairman Basil Williams.
The PNCR over the weekend held its 19th Biennial Congress at its Headquarters at Congress Place Sophia, Georgetown, which culminated with the elections of the party’s leadership.
The Congress this year boasted participation of 625 delegates and 275 observers from 140 groups.
During the first session which was chaired by Vice Chairman Dr George Norton, a moment of silence was observed in remembrance of party members who died over the last biennium.
The General Secretary’s Report was delivered by Oscar Clarke who informed Congress on the state of the PNCR, the work of the Party’s Secretariat and the major activities during the review period.
Addressing the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord which occurred on 14 February 2015 between the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), the General Secretary said “our decision was a correct one and indeed is the correct one for the future of our Party and….. In-spite of our differences our coalition administration has begun to work together to solve the myriad problems which we inherited…”
General Secretary Clarke also informed Congress about plans for the 60th anniversary of the PNCR on 5 October 2017. He declared that a Special Congress will be the centre-piece of the celebrations along with other activities at the central and regional levels.
The 19th Biennial Congress also approved a motion for the establishment of a resource centre for the preservation of works by former and future leaders of the PNCR.