Geeta Chandan-Edmond replaces Amna Ally as PNCR General Secretary

Opposition Member of Parliament, Geeta Chandan-Edmond has been appointed as the new General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) – which is the leading party in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) faction of the coalition Opposition.

She has replaced longstanding PNCR Member Amna Ally, who had served as the party’s General Secretary since June 2017 after the retirement of her predecessor, Oscar Clarke.
In a statement on Thursday, the party said that the newly-elected Leader of the PNCR, Aubrey C Norton, appointed Chandan-Edmond to the post. The appointment takes effect from January 3, 2022.
Chandan-Edmond currently serves as an APNU/AFC Member of Parliament and enjoys the support of the membership of the PNCR as manifest in her election to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the party, the missive detailed.

According to the party, Chandan-Edmond, who is a lawyer by profession, possesses management skills and good human relations skills that make her suitable to be General Secretary of the PNCR.
“The PNCR wishes her the best and has confidence in her abilities and will work with her as she strengthens and reorganises the administration of the PNCR,” the party’s missive stated.
Chandan-Edmond is a former member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), the minority party in the coalition Opposition. Last year, her husband, Joel Edmond, resigned from the AFC.
Chandan-Edmond, who is also a former Magistrate, had worked in the then Ministry of the Presidency (now Office of the President) under then Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, while the coalition was in office and had served on State Boards and Commissions.
Her appointment comes on the heels of Ally’s resignation earlier this week as Chief Scrutineer for the APNU/AFC.
In her report to the PNCR’s 21st Biennial Delegates’ Congress last month, Ally had indicated her intention to step down from the General Secretary post.
“The PNCR is the way to go. My dear comrades, this is my final stint as General Secretary. I must tell you that the journey has been very challenging, but I want to ask each member of our party to cleanse our hearts that condone hate; pray and let a breath of fresh air invade our minds and body. Our party groups must contribute to unifying our party and we must resolve to stay together, work together and build together. The PNCR must live on,” she stated.
In the weeks leading up to the Congress, there were concerns expressed over Ally’s role in the party’s electoral process with Dr Richard Van West-Charles, who was contesting for the leadership post, calling for her to step down in the interest of transparency.
Responding to him, the former General Secretary had declared that Dr Van West-Charles did not hire her.
Ally, who was appointed to the post by former Leader and President David Granger, also served as Minister of Social Cohesion under the coalition regime.
Granger had come in for heavy criticism by party members following his loss at the 2020 elections. (G8)