Ferguson, Mahipaul, Carol Smith-Joseph withdraw from PNCR’s Accreditation Congress Committee

Ahead of the People’s National Congress Reform’s (PNCR’s) 21st Biennial Congress next weekend, party members Annette Ferguson, Ganesh Mahipaul and Carol Smith-Joseph have stepped down from the Accreditation Congress Committee over concerns of conflict of interest.

Ferguson and Mahipaul – both APNU/AFC Opposition Members of Parliament – along with Smith-Joseph, have all publicly endorsed candidates who are contesting to become the next PNCR Leader. While Smith-Joseph has thrown her support behind front-runner Aubrey Norton, the two Parliamentarians have endorsed Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon.
Moreover, Mahipaul is also in the race for the PNCR Chairmanship. Harmon had indicated that if he wins the leadership of the party, he would make Mahipaul the next General Secretary of the PNCR.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the PNCR said that at a meeting the day before, the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) deliberated on a conflict of interest that arose within the Accreditation Congress Committee.
“The CEC, while recognising the right of delegates to support candidates of their choice, reasoned that a conflict of interest arose where members of the Accreditation Committee, which is responsible for selecting the delegates who would be voting for candidates, are at the same time openly campaigning for candidates of their choice. [Comrades] Carol Smith-Joseph, Anette Ferguson and Ganesh Mahipaul accepted the position of the CEC and withdrew from the Accreditation Congress Committee,” the missive stated.
The CEC has since immediately called for persons to be nominated as replacements within the Committee. It was noted that the work of the Accreditation Congress Committee is significantly advanced, hence the withdrawal of the trio would not delay its completion in time for the hosting of the Biennial Delegates Congress on December 11, 2021.
This comes on the heels of mounting concerns over the electoral process of the upcoming congress. Party member Dr Richard Van West-Charles, who is also vying for the leadership post, had previously called for current General Secretary Amna Ally to recuse herself from the post in order to allow for transparency and accountability in the election process.
He had also alleged that there were efforts by some to sway the PNCR membership to vote in a particular manner.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of last month’s Nominations’ Day proceedings, Candidate Norton had contended that once the rules are followed, there is nothing to be worried about regarding the internal electoral process.
“Elections are won when ballots are in the box and the winner is declared…
In any election, one has to put mechanisms in place to ensure irregularities don’t occur…the rules have been well established, and therefore if the rules are followed, there should be no irregularities whatsoever,” Norton had told reporters at Congress Place.
Nevertheless, in Thursday’s missive, the People’s National Congress Reform sought to reassure its members, supporters and the nation of “…its commitment for a free, fair and transparent 21st Biennial Delegates Congress…”
In addition to electing a new Leader to replace its incumbent Leader, former President David Granger, party members would also be voting for a new Chairperson, since incumbent Chair Volda Lawrence will not be contending to retain her post.
Lawrence has also declined a nomination for the position of PNCR Leader. She, along with Carl Greenidge, Basil Williams and Sharma Solomon, had received nominations for the post. However, only Williams has accepted his nomination.
Meanwhile, candidates for the chairmanship post include Christopher Jones, Simona Broomes, Roysdale Forde, Shurwayne Holder and Amanza Walton-Desir.
The PNCR – the leading party in the A Partnership for National Unity faction of the APNU/AFC Coalition Opposition – has been embroiled in a divisive internal power struggle since the party’s loss at the 2020 General and Regional Elections. Hence, there was mounting pressure for Congress to be held to elect new leadership.
At the party’s last biennial congress in 2018, Granger was reelected leader for a second time, after the post was uncontested.