Annette Ferguson – Vice Chair
Dr George Norton – 2nd Vice Chairman
Loud cheers erupted in the wee hours of Monday morning at Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, as longstanding party member Volda Lawrence was officially declared Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), creating history in the party as the first woman to hold the post.
After a late start due to power outage, voting got underway about 11:00h on Sunday – the final day of the PNCR’s 20th Biennial Delegates Congress – and concluded around 19:30h. Thereafter, the tallying process commenced and according to some members, even senior party executives, it was a gruelling process.
At about 01:00h on Monday, the votes were tabulated and Lawrence emerged victorious in front of former Chairman, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams; and bypassing fellow contender, Minister of State Joseph Harmon.
Lawrence, who is the Public Health Minister, secured 346 votes; while Harmon got 287, and Williams secured 183 votes.
The newly elected chairperson told the media that the result was not a surprise to her since she was expecting to be victorious. In her first address as PNCR Chairperson, she said she brings “heart for the people” as she pledged to work with the party.
“I pledge to walk the walk and to talk the talk to ensure that we remain in Government… I also pledge to work with our leader and leaders to ensure that we address the needs of our people and we all work together in unity,” she asserted.
Lawrence further committed to the party’s Leader, President David Granger, who was re-elected after his position was unopposed, to use women power to support his Government’s policies.
“To our leader, I will walk side by side with you and I will bring the women with me and we will carry you,” she said.
Sunday’s election was a historic one within the PNCR since not only was a female chairperson elected for the first time but the party’s also voted for a female Vice Chairperson in Junior Public Infrastructure Minister, Annette Ferguson, who secured 260 votes while Dr George Norton was elected the 2nd Vice Chairman with 242 votes.
Notably, Norton was not at the Congress when the results were announced.
Ferguson told reporters that she was grateful for the win. “From the time I was encouraged to enter [the race] I knew I would win… And to double today’s victory, it’s my birthday so I want to first of all thank God,” she posited.
Meanwhile, President Granger said the election of these two women to the top positions of the party is a reflection of his and Government’s commitment to gender equality. This, he noted, is evident to the fact he appointed for the first time female Senior Counsels and this year’s national awardees were dominated by females.
The PNCR Leader, in his charge to the newly elected members, reminded them that while they are party members, they are also members of Government and therefore have a duty towards the country first.
“I mention the holding of high office in party and in Government because in the final analysis its Guyana that counts,” he added.
The Head of State further stated that while the three Ministers were contending for the party’s chairmanship post as rivals, they are colleagues in his Cabinet and thus understand their duty to build a better country.
“There are no victors, there are not victims… At the end of the day, we are one party and we are all working towards a common goal,” the President told those who braved through the long night, urging them to remain faithful to the party over the next two years and beyond as they work to lead Guyana to the promise land.
In addition to these newly elected members, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan was re-elected as the party’s Treasurer, as his position was unopposed.
Meanwhile, the votes for the Central Executive Committee will be tallied later today.
